Problem Of Evil Analysis
In this assignment, we were asked to analyze the Problem of Evil from Mackie’s standpoint using his objective techniques. In this essay, I will choose to elaborate on the Problem of Evil. Furthermore, I will explain why I agree with the argument, by presenting the two strongest objections based on what seems to be a more persuasive argument, then show why those objections do not succeed. The two objections that I select to present are (1) “Good cannot exist without evil” or “Evil is necessary as a counterpart to good” and (2) “Evil is due to human freewill”. Now let’s begin our elaboration on the topics at hand. The Problem of Evil concerns three premises, God is all-powerful, God is all-good, and evil exist. If God is omnipotent; he would
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This objection implies that evil is induced by the ability of humans to dictate their own free will to make the choices/decisions that they want to make, which may be good or evil. I most definitely agree with this objection because God can intend for something to be good, but if you choose to use it in a way not in his original intentions then you can easily turn that good thing into something of evil. For instance, God created the world and everything in it as good and pure and he made it all accessible to Adam and Eve as much as they want. The only exception that he presented them with was to not eat of the fruit within the Garden of Eden or else they will surely day. Although these were clear instructions given by God, Eve still ate of the fruit of the Garden and then had Adam to eat of the fruit of the Garden, which defied God’s instruction of the two of them. This one horrible act of free will sent them from a life of fruitfulness and abundance to a life of destruction, hardship, and lack. This is an example of selecting to use your own free will to choose your actions, despite the instruction that were given unto you. This objection also can stem from the fact of someone doing evil in accordance with having seemingly good intentions for why they handled a situation in the way that they do. If a person has to use evil tactics to fulfill what they feel is a worthy cause then that individual may feel as if that justifies the actions as good, although they may know right from wrong. For example, A man steals money from a business to help pay for his child’s tuition. The man feels as if he has great intentions behind his actions, thus not perceiving his actions as evil. In addition to this motivation driven act he may have the intention of later paying back the funds as well. Although the man sees this as an act of good, the business owner sees this as a blatant act of evil because he has stolen money that
This objection implies that evil is induced by the ability of humans to dictate their own free will to make the choices/decisions that they want to make, which may be good or evil. I most definitely agree with this objection because God can intend for something to be good, but if you choose to use it in a way not in his original intentions then you can easily turn that good thing into something of evil. For instance, God created the world and everything in it as good and pure and he made it all accessible to Adam and Eve as much as they want. The only exception that he presented them with was to not eat of the fruit within the Garden of Eden or else they will surely day. Although these were clear instructions given by God, Eve still ate of the fruit of the Garden and then had Adam to eat of the fruit of the Garden, which defied God’s instruction of the two of them. This one horrible act of free will sent them from a life of fruitfulness and abundance to a life of destruction, hardship, and lack. This is an example of selecting to use your own free will to choose your actions, despite the instruction that were given unto you. This objection also can stem from the fact of someone doing evil in accordance with having seemingly good intentions for why they handled a situation in the way that they do. If a person has to use evil tactics to fulfill what they feel is a worthy cause then that individual may feel as if that justifies the actions as good, although they may know right from wrong. For example, A man steals money from a business to help pay for his child’s tuition. The man feels as if he has great intentions behind his actions, thus not perceiving his actions as evil. In addition to this motivation driven act he may have the intention of later paying back the funds as well. Although the man sees this as an act of good, the business owner sees this as a blatant act of evil because he has stolen money that