The Problem of Evil
These are 5 terms and concepts that are to clarify some aspects of evil.
1. Defense - “a demonstration that the existence of God is logically consistent with the existence of evil.” There will always be two sides to our universe. With out one, the other could not exist. This is a major part that I intend to dissect. (31) (pfp)
2. Theodicy – “explaining how evil fits into God’s actual plan for the world.” Basically saying that there are people who understand what God has intended to do, and by allowing evil, he is testing humans. This is hard to believe, since there is no proof to know what God is thinking.(31) (pfp)
3. Free Will – “it was necessary for God to endow us with free will. It is freedom that makes humans special. In giving us the power of free choice, however, God had to leave open the possibility that we might sometimes choose badly.” A sense of evil can usually be accounted by how a person acts. Because human beings are left with free will, one can act to their preference, and in this case, evil. Being bogged down by choices everywhere we go, a bad choice is bound to happen. (36) (pfp)
4. The Existential Problem of Evil – Naturally good people cannot do evil. Their personality and moral values have not really witnessed as much of history. (78) (tatw)
5. Self-overcoming – This is concept of Nietzsche that we need to hold back the animal instincts that we have. Depending on the situation that one is in, it is sometimes evadible to give in to the more primitive side. This should tie in well with the pervious concepts, but really it is because it is the one I like the most.
Work Cited
>Rachels, James, Problems from Philosophy. 1st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.
>Rachels, James, The Truth about the World. 1st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.
>SparkNotes : Beyond good and evil : Terms
2006
http://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/beyondgood/characters.html
1 comment:
Hey, I like the 5 concepts, you can really see the development of the Problem of Evil. In your "Defense" paragraph you sat that "There will always be two sides to our universe."
How does that apply to before we are born and after we are dead?
In your "Existential Problem of Evil" paragraph you say that good is wrong? Would they adjust to societies' definition of good? Within solving this does that mean the "Taliban" could have good in them?
Does the "Self-Overcoming concept" play into the hands of good or evil?
I really appreciate the good work done. It sparks an interest in your subject. Well I'll catch ya on the flip.
TJ
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