Introduction to the Problem of Evil
Welcome to one of the most famous topics in Philosophy of Religion! The "Problem of Evil" is often called the "rock of atheism." It asks a very simple but difficult question: If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why is there so much suffering in the world?
In this chapter, we will explore the different types of evil, the logical and evidential challenges they pose, and two major "theodicies" (attempts to justify God) from Augustine and John Hick. Don't worry if it seems complex at first—we will break it down step-by-step!
1. Defining the Problem
Before we look at the arguments, we need to distinguish between the two ways we experience "evil" in the world:
- Moral Evil: Suffering caused by the deliberate actions of humans (e.g., murder, war, theft).
- Natural Evil: Suffering caused by the world’s natural processes (e.g., earthquakes, cancer, tsunamis).
The Logical Problem (Deductive)
This is a "hard" problem based on logic. It suggests that the existence of God and the existence of evil are logically incompatible. This is often shown through the Inconsistent Triad. Imagine a triangle with three points:
- God is Omnipotent (all-powerful).
- God is Omnibenevolent (all-loving).
- Evil exists.
Logicians argue that you can only have two of these at once. If God were all-powerful, He could stop evil. If He were all-loving, He would want to stop evil. Since evil exists, the God of classical theism (the God of the Bible) cannot exist.
The Evidential Problem (Inductive)
This is a "soft" problem based on evidence. It doesn't say God is impossible; it says that given the amount and intensity of suffering, God's existence is highly improbable. For example, why is there "pointless" suffering, such as a fawn dying slowly in a forest fire where no human ever sees it? This doesn't seem to lead to any greater good.
Quick Review: The logical problem says God cannot exist with evil; the evidential problem says there is too much evil for God to be a likely explanation.
2. Augustine’s Theodicy: The "Soul-Deciding" View
St. Augustine (4th Century) argued that God is perfect and that a perfect God could only create a perfect world. This leads to several key ideas:
Original Perfection and the "Privatio Boni"
Augustine argued that evil is not a "thing" or a substance that God created. Instead, he defined evil as a privatio boni (a privation or absence of good).
Analogy: Think of a hole in a sock. The hole isn't a "thing" you bought; it is just a place where the sock is missing. Similarly, evil is just a place where "good" is missing.
The Fall of Angels and Humans
If God's creation was perfect, where did the "absence of good" come from? Augustine blamed Free Will.
1. Some angels used their free will to turn away from God, causing a loss of harmony in the universe.
2. Adam and Eve committed the first sin (The Fall) in the Garden of Eden. This act of rebellion destroyed the natural balance, leading to natural evil (as a punishment) and moral evil (because our nature is now corrupted).
The Punishment and the Remedy
Augustine believed all humans are "seminally present" in Adam. This means we are all born with "Original Sin" and deserve to be punished. However, God is also merciful. He sent Jesus to save those who have faith. This makes it a "soul-deciding" theodicy because our response to this situation decides our eternal fate.
Key Takeaway: For Augustine, evil is our fault, not God's. God is just to let us suffer because we (through Adam) chose to turn away from Him.
3. John Hick’s Theodicy: The "Soul-Making" View
John Hick (20th Century) took a very different approach, reworking the ideas of an earlier thinker named Irenaeus. He argued that God intended the world to have suffering.
The Image and the Likeness
Hick suggested that humans were not created perfect. Instead, we were created in the "image" of God (having the potential for intelligence and morality) but we must grow into the "likeness" of God (becoming spiritually mature beings).
Soul-Making and Epistemic Distance
Hick argued that a "perfect" world would be like a "toy box" or a "paradise for pets." In such a world, we could never learn courage, patience, or compassion.
To develop these virtues, we need a "vale of soul-making"—a world where real challenges and real pain exist.
Epistemic Distance: God stays "hidden" from us (he doesn't make His existence obvious). This "distance" ensures we have the freedom to choose to believe in Him and act morally for the right reasons, rather than being forced to by His overwhelming presence.
Universalism
One major part of Hick's view is that if the point of life is "soul-making," it clearly doesn't finish for everyone before they die. Therefore, Hick argued there must be an afterlife where the process continues until everyone eventually reaches the "likeness of God" and enters heaven. This is called Universal Salvation.
Key Takeaway: For Hick, evil is a "tool" used by God to help us grow. Suffering is necessary for us to become spiritually mature.
4. Comparing the Two Theodicies
When you are writing your essays, it is helpful to compare these two views directly:
Scientific Challenges: Augustine's view relies on a literal interpretation of Genesis (Adam and Eve). Modern science (evolution) suggests we didn't start perfect and "fall"; rather, we started simple and evolved. This supports Hick's view more than Augustine's.
The Concept of Hell: Augustine's view includes eternal punishment in Hell, which many find difficult to reconcile with an all-loving God. Hick avoids this with universalism, but critics ask: if everyone goes to heaven anyway, why bother being good now?
The Amount of Suffering: Both theodicies struggle with the sheer scale of evil. Does a child need to die of starvation to help someone else "soul-make"? Critics argue the "price" of soul-making is too high.
Summary Checklist
- Do I know the difference between Moral and Natural evil?
- Can I explain the Inconsistent Triad (Logical Problem)?
- Can I explain why the Evidential Problem focuses on the amount of suffering?
- Can I define Privatio Boni and Seminally Present in Augustine's theory?
- Can I explain Soul-making and Epistemic Distance in Hick's theory?
Note: For more on the attributes of God mentioned here (Omnipotence, etc.), see the chapter "The nature or attributes of God".