What does evil mean in the problem of evil?
In this argument and in the problem of evil itself, evil is understood to encompass both moral evil (caused by free human actions) and natural evil (caused by natural phenomena such as disease, earthquakes, and floods).
What is the problem of evil mainly about?
The epistemic question posed by evil is whether the world contains undesirable states of affairs that provide the basis for an argument that makes it unreasonable to believe in the existence of God.
What is true evil?
To be truly evil, someone must have sought to do harm by planning to commit some morally wrong action with no prompting from others (whether this person successfully executes his or her plan is beside the point).
What are the two problems of evil?
The problem of evil is often formulated in two forms: the logical problem of evil and the evidential problem of evil.
Who invented the problem of evil?
The earliest statement of the problem of evil is attributed to Epicurus, but this is uncertain. See note–34.
What is the problem of evil and suffering?
The Problem of Evil and Suffering. The reality of suffering is a common argument against the existence of God, or against growing deeper in one’s faith. We don’t have to look far to find the brokenness in our own lives, the lives of others, and the world. Such an awareness can lead to doubts about God.
Which is the most serious version of the problem of evil?
Scholar Michael Almeida said this was “perhaps the most serious and difficult” version of the problem of evil. The problem of evil in the context of animal suffering, states Almeida, can be stated as: God is omnipotent, omniscient and wholly good. The evil of extensive animal suffering exists.
Is the suffering of animals an experiential evil?
However, we must not view the sum total of animal suffering as one experiential evil: no one individual experiences the total sum of animal pain. Furthermore, it does not seem that animal suffering is commensurate with human suffering. Given a “principle of repeatable reasons” it is plausible that theists can answer the problem of animal pain.
Why is there a problem with animal suffering?
However, the problem of animal suffering raises two difficulties for Van Inwagen’s response to gratuitous evil. First, human beings have free-will and moral responsibility; animals do not. Animals were suffering for countless generations before human beings appeared on Earth.