Our Knowledge of Gratuitous Evil
How do we know that some instance of evil is gratuitous? I think that there is much to say in favor of the idea that we simply see that the evil is gratuitous. That is, in observing some bad event, I observe directly that this event is neither necessary for the occurrence of some compensating … Our Knowledge of Gratuitous Evil
An Evidential Argument from Evil: Natural Inequality
I want to quickly sketch an evidential (aka “explanatory” aka “abductive” aka “F-Inductive“) argument from evil, one which focuses exclusively on natural inequality. The argument is not mine; it belongs to Moti Mizrahi. The key point of Mizrahi’s argument, which he credits to an insight of John Rawls, is this: … natural endowments are undeserved.Now, if … An Evidential Argument from Evil: Natural Inequality
Correction to “Are Atheism and Moral Realism Logically Incompatible?”
The introduction to my post, “Are Atheism and Moral Realism Logically Incompatible?”, probably gave readers an impression I did not intend, namely, that, in my exchange at Victor Reppert’s Dangerous Idea blog, Steve linked arguments from moral ontology (for theism) and arguments from evil (from atheism). Steve didn’t do that there and I’m sorry if I created that … Correction to “Are Atheism and Moral Realism Logically Incompatible?”
LINK: A New Problem of Evil: Authority and the Duty of Interference
Abstract: The traditional problem of evil sets theists the task of reconciling two things: God and evil. I argue that theists face the more difficult task of reconciling God and evils that God is specially obligated to prevent. Because of His authority, God’s obligation to curtail evil goes far beyond our Samaritan duty to prevent … LINK: A New Problem of Evil: Authority and the Duty of Interference
LINK: The Problem of Animal Pain and Suffering
Abstract: Here I discuss some theistic responses to the problem of animal pain and suffering with special attention to Michael Murray’s presentation in Nature Red in Tooth and Claw. The neo-Cartesian defenses he describes are reviewed, along with the appeal to nomic regularity and Murray’s emphasis on the progression of the universe from chaos to … LINK: The Problem of Animal Pain and Suffering
LINK: The Problem of Natural Inequality: A New Problem of Evil
Abstract: In this paper, I argue that there is a kind of evil, namely, the unequal distribution of natural endowments, or natural inequality, which presents theists with a new evidential problem of evil. The problem of natural inequality is a new evidential problem of evil not only because, to the best of my knowledge, it … LINK: The Problem of Natural Inequality: A New Problem of Evil
LINK: Environmental Ethics and the Expanding Problem of Evil
Abstract: The problem of evil is that morally gratuitous suffering and destruction is evidence against a benevolent and potent god. Often cases of this evil are restricted to human suffering, but if the moral universe is expanded in the fashion associated with environmental ethics, the scope of morally significant suffering and destruction grows. Consequently, the … LINK: Environmental Ethics and the Expanding Problem of Evil
Quote of the Day (on Child Rape vs. Free Will)
Victor Reppert: Well, I personally would rather live in a world in which children are raped than in a world without free will. But I suspect you will find my preference repugnant. LINK (you may have to skip down to the comments box to find this) Your name Your email Subject Your message (optional)
25 Lines of Evidence Against Theism
Refutation of Anna Marie Perez Previous | Index | Next First Paragraph Here is Perez’s first paragraph: Atheism is a religion. Atheists act like Dracula confronting a cross when faced with the fact that their beliefs rely solely on faith. They hate the word faith, even though it’s all they’ve got. They try to make the … 25 Lines of Evidence Against Theism
The Problem of Epistemic Evil
The problem of epistemic evil is raised by Rene Descartes in the fourth of his Meditations on First Philosophy. In the previous meditation he believed that he had exorcised the Evil Genius who might be systematically and comprehensively deceiving us. Descartes believes that he has proven the existence of a good God who will not … The Problem of Epistemic Evil