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Philosophy A level AQA problem of evil
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Philosophy A level AQA Philosophy problem of evil - God
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The problem of Evil questions:Explain the difference between moral and natural evil (3 marks)
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Moral evil is created by humans and is done from their will. For example, murder is a type of
moral evil. Whereas Natural evil occurs not from human action but natural via earth’s
processes such as earthquakes. Some might argue that the two can cause each other, for
example, natural evil such as droughts maybe caused by overpopulation.
According to Hick what is a soul making theodicy (3 marks)
John Hick uses his soul making theodicy to show that it is the experience of pain and
suffering that enable us to morally develop. In response to evil we can make decisions which
enable us to develop virtues such as courage. Hick believes that the world is tough because
it is a ‘vale of soul making’ in which our souls are forged.
Explain what Platinga is trying to achieve in his Free will defence (5 marks)
Platinga’s free will defence was developed from St Augustine. In his theory he is aiming to
show that God and the existence of evil is compatible. Platinga argues against Leibniz that
God can make the perfect world. Instead Platinga is showing that God cannot create such as
perfect world. He cannot create humans who have genuine free will and always do morally
right things. Humans are significantly free if they are capable of doing moral good and moral
evil. Thus, Platinga is showing that God is supremely good as otherwise he would of created
us as pets or robots. God is also omnipotent otherwise he would not have been able to
create the world.
Explain the evidential problem of evil (5 marks)
The evidential problem of evil assesses the intensity and gratuitousness of evil in the world
and aims to suggest that which this amount of suffering and evil that there is limited
possibility of their being a God. William Rowe supports this theory and uses the example of
a dead dying deer in the forest burning alive with no one watching unknown. Rowe argues
what is the point of this innocent deer’s suffering? If god is omnipotent, omnibenevolent
and all knowing surely this can be prevented.
Outline the logical problem of evil and explain the Free will defence (12)
The logical problem of evil aims to argue that God and the existence of evil is incompatible.
The logical problem of evil argument is supported by J.L Mackie who created the
inconsistent triad to display the argument that God cannot exist.
P1. God is benevolent, omniscient and omnipotent
P2. An omnibenevolent God would want to stop all evil
P3. An omniscient God would know about all evil
P4. An omnipotent God would immediately stop all evil
P5. Evil exists
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