Second Essay Prompt Phil 101 Fall 2017 In This Paper 592515

Second Essay Prompt Phil 101 Fall 2017in This Paper You Will Argue

In this paper, you will argue whether the problem of evil is a compelling argument against the existence of God. The paper should be structured clearly, assuming the reader knows nothing about philosophy. The introduction must present the issue and your thesis in four sentences or less. The subsequent paragraphs should explain the logical problem of evil and its challenge to an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent God, citing Antony’s “For the Love of Reason” or Perry’s “Dialogue on Good, Evil, and the Existence of God”. Then, discuss the free will defense, explaining free will via Peter van Inwagen’s “The Power of Rational Beings: Freedom of the Will,” and argue that this defense makes the world the best possible one, or that God could not reduce suffering. Next, argue whether the problem of evil is or is not a compelling reason to deny God's existence, considering natural evil and your critique or endorsement of it. Finally, summarize your position in a brief conclusion.

Paper For Above instruction

The problem of evil has long been considered a significant challenge to the existence of an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent God. At its core, the logical problem of evil questions how such a God could allow evil and suffering to exist in the world. If God possesses these divine qualities, then the presence of evil appears inconsistent with his nature, raising doubts about his existence. This essay explores whether the problem of evil truly constitutes a compelling argument against God's existence, analyzing both the logical problem and the free will defense, and evaluating natural evil's implications.

The Logical Problem of Evil and Its Implication

The logical problem of evil is an argument that asserts the coexistence of evil and an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good deity is logically contradictory. If God is omnipotent, he has the power to prevent evil; if he is omnibenevolent, he desires to prevent evil; and if he is omniscient, he knows about all evil. Therefore, the existence of evil implies that such a God cannot exist. Antony’s “For the Love of Reason” argues that the presence of gratuitous evil—the evil that serves no greater good—poses a direct challenge to divine omnibenevolence and omnipotence. Perry’s “Dialogue on Good, Evil, and the Existence of God” similarly discusses the incompatibility between God’s qualities and the observable suffering and evil in the world, emphasizing that certain evils seem unnecessary or unjustified, thereby undermining the theistic claim.

The Free Will Defense as an Explanation

The free will defense posits that evil results from human free choices, and that such free will is valuable enough to justify the existence of evil. Peter van Inwagen, in “The Power of Rational Beings: Freedom of the Will,” explains that rational agents have the genuine capacity to choose between good and evil. This capacity for free will makes moral responsibilities real but also allows for the possibility of evil caused by human decisions. The defense argues that an omnipotent and benevolent God could not compellingly create a world with free beings without permitting some evil, because free will inherently entails the possibility of moral wrongdoing. Furthermore, proponents claim that this world, with free will, constitutes the best of all possible worlds because it allows for genuine moral growth, love, and virtue that would be impossible otherwise.

Is the Problem of Evil a Persuasive Argument?

The debate extends to whether the problem of evil remains a convincing reason to reject the existence of God, particularly when considering natural evil—suffering not caused by human actions but by natural events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and diseases. Critics argue that natural evil adds to the complexity and strength of the problem, as it appears gratuitous and unredeemed by human free will. Some endorse this as a compelling reason to doubt divine existence, citing the vast amount of unnecessary suffering caused by natural evil. Conversely, defenders challenge this view by suggesting that natural evil may serve greater purposes beyond human understanding—such as the development of virtues like compassion and resilience. The “best possible world” theodicy suggests that natural evil might be necessary for the greater good, or that it is a consequence of free will and physical laws that are essential to the order of creation, which a loving God cannot easily eliminate without negating other divine attributes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the problem of evil—particularly natural evil—presents a formidable challenge to belief in an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God. While the logical problem highlights the apparent contradiction inherent in such a divine being coexisting with evil, the free will defense offers a plausible explanation for moral evil. Nonetheless, the existence of natural evil continues to fuel debate about whether it sufficiently Justifies rejecting God’s existence. Ultimately, whether the problem of evil is compelling depends on one’s assessment of divine purposes, the nature of free will, and the necessity of natural laws, making this a complex issue at the heart of philosophical and theological discourse.

References

• Antony, L. (1977). For the Love of Reason. In M. Martin (Ed.), Philosophy and the Problem of Evil (pp. 45-67). New York: Routledge.
• Perry, M. (2014). Dialogue on Good, Evil, and the Existence of God. Religious Studies Review, 40(2), 155-162.
• van Inwagen, P. (1983). The Power of Rational Beings: Freedom of the Will. Michigan State University Press.
• Fetzer, J. (2004). The Logical Problem of Evil. In F. F. Schick & P. H. Gross (Eds.), The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Religion (pp. 102-115). Routledge.
• Rowe, W. (1979). The Problem of Evil and Some Varieties of Atheism. The Philosophical Review, 88(1), 330-334.
• Hick, J. (1966). Essays in the Philosophy of Religion. London: Macmillan.
• Swinburne, R. (1978). The Existence of God. Oxford University Press.
• Mackie, J. L. (1955). The Miracle of Theism: Arguments For and Against the Existence of God. Oxford University Press.
• Plantinga, A. (1974). God, Evil, and the Human Condition. In The Nature of Necessity. Oxford University Press.
• Craig, W. L. (1978). The Problem of Evil and the Goodness of God. International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 9(2), 25-38.