PHIL 2003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Omnipotence, Natural Evil, Moral Evil
Document Summary
Argument to conclude there is a designer based on viewing the natural word. Evolution by natural design is a better explanation. Simplified: there are gratuitous evils, an omnipotent, omniscient, wholly good god would prevent or remove gratuitous evils, therefore, no such god exists. It is valid if you agree with the premises. In order to say it is not valid, you must disagree with one or more premises. He defined evil as instances of intense suffering. Problem of evil is why would god create a world like the one we live in: would expect god to create a better world than this. Theodicies: muslim, christian , theistic account/ justification of the existence of god in light of the obvious existence of evil. God does have the ability to carry out a world with no intense suffering: premise 1 is controversial for theists. Whether or not there are evils in the world that don"t lead to greater good, serve a purpose.