PHIL 201 Study Guide Lesson 20 The Problem of Evil

PHIL 201 Study Guide Lesson 20 The Problem of Evil
Study Guide Lesson 20: The Problem of Evil
Points:
Explain the distinction between moral and natural (or nonmoral) evil – Moral Evil
Explain the distinction between the logical form of the problem and the evidential form – Logical Form
Explain the difference between a theodicy and a defense – Theodicy
What are two inadequate ways of resolving the problem
What is Mackie’s form of the logical problem of evil
Explain the “greater good” response to Mackie’s argument
Explain the “logically impossible” response to the criticism of the “greater good” argument
How does the existence of certain “second-order goods” require the possibility of evil
What is the soul-making theodicy and what are some problems with it
How does the free-will theodicy support the soul-making theodicy
Explain Mackie’s objection that God could have created a world where creatures freely choose to always do good
Explain Plantinga’s libertarian free will response to Mackie’s objection
How is Plantinga’s argument a defense and not a theodicy
Explain the three ways a free-will theodicy can account for natural evil
Explain why a defense is all one needs to defeat the logical form of the problem of evil
Contrast the logical form of the problem with the evidential form of the problem – what is the difference
Explain the evidential problem in terms of pointless evil
How does CORNEA (aka the cognitive limitation defense) address the evidential problem
How does one’s belief in the existence of a benevolent and loving God answer the evidential problem
Explain the balance between faith and reason in applying the GE Moore shift to the evidential problem
Explain Adams’s theodicy concerning horrendous evils, why it requires an afterlife to work and specifically why it requires universalism
Why is hell a problem
Explain the annihilation solution to the problem of hell and possible problems with it – Solution:
Explain the mild-hell solution and how it is a version of the free will theodicy
What is the main criticism of the “free will” aspect of the mild-hell solution and how do supporters of the solution respond to the criticism – Criticism:
What is the problem of divine hiddenness and how is it an argument for atheism –
What are two solutions to the problem of divine hiddenness –

Terms:
Moral Evil
Natural Evil
Logical Form of the Problem
Evidential Form of the Problem
Theodicy
Defense
The Greater-Good Response
The Logically Impossible Response
Second-Order Good
Soul-Making Theodicy
Free Will Theodicy
Transworld Depravity
CORNEA
The Cognitive Limitation Defense
G.E. Moore Shift
Horrendous Evils
Universalism
Annihilationism
The “Mild Hell” Solution
Divine Hiddenness