The Problem of Evil
The problem of evil is often given in the form of an inconsistent triad. For example, J. L. Mackie gave the following three propositions:
- God is omnipotent
- God is omnibenevolent
- Evil exists
Mackie argued that these propositions were inconsistent, and thus, that at least one of these propositions must be false. Either:
- God is omnipotent and omnibenevolent, and evil does not exist.
- God is omnipotent, but not omnibenevolent; thus, evil exists by God's will.
- God is omnibenevolent, but not omnipotent; thus, evil exists, but it is not within God's power to stop it (at least not instantaneously).
Many responses have been made to the problem of evil, including the proposition that evil exists as a consequence of a greater good, such as free will; that evil is an illusion; and that evil is necessary for spiritual growth.
Read more about this topic: Inconsistent Triad
Famous quotes containing the words the problem, problem and/or evil:
“In a town-meeting, the great secret of political science was uncovered, and the problem solved, how to give every individual his fair weight in the government, without any disorder from numbers. In a town-meeting, the roots of society were reached. Here the rich gave counsel, but the poor also; and moreover, the just and the unjust.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Great speeches have always had great soundbites. The problem now is that the young technicians who put together speeches are paying attention only to the soundbite, not to the text as a whole, not realizing that all great soundbites happen by accident, which is to say, all great soundbites are yielded up inevitably, as part of the natural expression of the text. They are part of the tapestry, they aren’t a little flower somebody sewed on.”
—Peggy Noonan (b. 1950)
“Guilty. Guilty. My evil self is at that door, and I have no power to stop it.”
—Cyril Hume, and Fred McLeod Wilcox. Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon)