The Problem of Evil

“The traditional arguments for the existence of God have been fairly thoroughly criticized by philosophers. But the theologian can, if he wishes, accept this criticism. He can admit that no rational proof of God’s existence is possible. And he can still retain all that is essential to his position, by holding that God’s existence is known in some other, nonrational way [through faith?].” (Mackie's "Evil and Omnipotence")

Mackie (and many others), however, maintains that not only are there no good reasons to believe that God exists, there is a good reason to believe that God does not exist.

An Argument based upon the Problem of Evil (Version 1)

1. If God exists, then this world was created by an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent (OO&O) being.
2. If this world was created by an (OO&O) being, then this is the best of all possible worlds.
3. If this is the best of all possible worlds, then this world contains no evil.
4. It is not the case that this world contains no evil.
5. Therefore, it is not the case that God exists. [1,2,3,4 MMT]

• Be able to provide a substantial rationale for each of the premises.
• Be able to present an objection against the argument based on the Free Will Defense (Ultimate Questions: 203; Evil and Omnipotence: 126).
• Which premise would an adherent of the free will defense reject?
• Evaluate the objection.
• Be able to present and evaluate another objection to one of the premises of this first version of the Problem of Evil.

Consider natural evils to be those evils that do not result from the abuse of human free will. Now consider our second version of the Problem of Evil.

An Argument based upon the Problem of Evil (Version 2)

1. If God exists, then this world was created by an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent (OO&O) being.
2. If this world was created by an (OO&O) being, then this is the best of all possible worlds.
3. If this is the best of all possible worlds, then this world contains no natural evil.
4. It is not the case that this world contains no natural evil.
5. Therefore, it is not the case that God exists. [1,2,3,4 MMT]

• Be able to provide rationales for premises (3) and (4) of this version of the Problem of Evil.
• Be able to evaluate the argument. Is it valid? What form is it in? Is it sound? If you find this second version of the argument unsound, you will be required to pick a premise and state an objection against it.

Here's a final version of the Problem of Evil:

An Argument based upon the Problem of Evil (Version 3)

1. If God exists, then this world was created by an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent (OO&O) being.
2. If this world was created by an (OO&O) being, then this is the best of all possible worlds.
3. If this is the best of all possible worlds, then this world contains no unnecessary evil.
4. It is not the case that this world contains no unnecessary evil.
5. Therefore, it is not the case that God exists. [1,2,3,4 MMT]

What do you think about this one?

Some Versions of the Logical form of Multiple Modus Tollens:

1. If P, then Q.
2. If Q, then R.
3. It's not the case that R.
4. Therefore, it's not the case that P

1. If P, then Q.
2. If Q, then R.
3. If R, then S.
4. It's not the case that S.
5. Therefore, it's not the case that P.