The problem of evil

Introduction to the Problem of Evil

Welcome! In this chapter, we explore what many call the "rock of atheism." For people who believe in a God who is all-powerful and all-good, the existence of suffering and evil is a massive challenge. If God can stop the suffering and wants to stop the suffering, why is it still happening? We will look at how philosophers describe this problem and the "theodicies" (justifications for God) proposed by Augustine and Hick.

Note: This topic links closely to "The Existence of God" and "Ancient Philosophical Influences," but here we focus specifically on the conflict between God's nature and the presence of evil.

1. The Logical Problem of Evil

The logical problem is an a priori challenge. It claims that the existence of God and the existence of evil are logically incompatible. It’s like saying "I have a square circle" — the two ideas simply cannot exist at the same time.

The Inconsistent Triad

This is a famous way of visualizing the problem. Imagine a triangle with three points:

• Omnipotence: God is all-powerful.
• Omnibenevolence: God is all-loving.
• Evil Exists: We can see suffering in the world.

Philosophers argue that you can pick any two, but the third one will always contradict them. If God is all-powerful and all-loving, evil shouldn't exist. If evil exists, God must either lack the power to stop it or the love to want to.

Quick Review: The logical problem says that the very concept of God is made impossible by the fact that evil exists.

2. The Evidential Problem of Evil

The evidential problem is slightly different. It doesn't say it’s impossible for God to exist; instead, it says that based on the evidence we see around us, it is highly unlikely.

Think about the sheer amount and intensity of suffering.
Example: A child dying of a slow, painful disease, or thousands of animals dying in a forest fire.
Philosophers argue that even if some evil is needed for a "greater good," there is so much pointless (gratuitous) evil that it's hard to believe a loving God is in charge.

Did you know? This version of the argument is often linked to Hume, who questioned why a "perfect" designer would create a world with so much dysfunction.

3. Augustine’s Theodicy

Augustine (354–430 CE) developed a theodicy based on the idea of original perfection and the Fall. His goal was to show that God is not responsible for evil.

Evil as a "Privation" (Privatio Boni)

Augustine argued that God, being perfectly good, could not create evil. He defined evil not as a "thing" in itself, but as a privation (a lack or an absence) of good.
Analogy: Darkness isn't a thing you can touch; it’s just what happens when light is missing. Blindness isn't a "thing"; it’s just the absence of sight. Therefore, God didn't "create" evil.

The Fall and Free Will

According to Augustine, God’s creation was initially perfect. Evil entered the world through the Fall of the angels and then the Fall of Adam and Eve. These beings had free will and chose to turn away from God (the "Supreme Good") toward lesser things.

• Moral Evil: Comes from human and angelic choice.
• Natural Evil: Augustine saw this as a "loss of order" in nature caused by the original sin of humanity, which upset the balance of the world.

The "Aesthetic" Argument

Augustine suggested that from God's "bird's eye view," the universe is still perfect. Even the punishment of sinners is a form of justice that adds to the beauty of the whole.
Analogy: A painting needs dark shadows to make the bright colors stand out. To us, the shadows look ugly, but to the artist (God), the whole painting is beautiful.

Key Takeaway: For Augustine, evil is our fault (free will), not God's, and evil is just a "hole" in goodness.

4. Hick’s Irenaean Theodicy

John Hick (1922–2012) offered a "reworking" of an older theory by Irenaeus. Hick’s approach is very different from Augustine’s: he believes God purposely created a world containing evil.

Soul-Making

Hick argues that humans were not created perfect. Instead, we were created in the "image" of God (having the potential for intelligence) but must grow into the "likeness" of God (spiritual and moral maturity).
The world is a "vale of soul-making"—a place where our characters are forged through struggle and challenge.

The Purpose of Natural Evil

Why do we have earthquakes and diseases? Hick says that if the world were a "hedonistic paradise" (where nothing ever went wrong), we could never learn qualities like courage, patience, or compassion.
Example: You can't be brave if there is nothing to be afraid of. You can't be generous if no one is ever in need.

Epistemic Distance

Hick argues God stays at an "epistemic distance" (a distance in knowledge). If God’s existence were 100% obvious, we would be forced to obey Him like robots. By making His existence uncertain and the world challenging, God gives us the freedom to choose to believe and grow.

Universal Salvation

Because the "soul-making" process is so difficult, Hick believes it doesn't end at death. He argues that eventually, everyone will complete the process and reach divine likeness (Universalism).

Key Takeaway: For Hick, evil is a "tool" used by God to help us grow from "animals" into "children of God."

Summary Table: Augustine vs. Hick

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing up the types of evil: Remember, Moral Evil is caused by people (murder, war), while Natural Evil is caused by nature (tsunamis, cancer).
• Forgetting "Privatio Boni": On an exam, don't just say Augustine thought evil was "fake." Say it is a privation or a "lack of something that should be there."
• Ignoring the "Image/Likeness" distinction: For Hick, being in the "image" isn't enough; we need "soul-making" to reach the "likeness."

Don't worry if Hick's idea of God "creating" evil seems shocking! That is exactly why it is a controversial and engaging topic for your AO2 (evaluation) essays.