What Philosophy Is

The Problem of Evil

As you read the material for the next class, keep the questions below in mind. To answer these questions you will have to reflect critically on what you have read and possibly re-read important passages. Keep in mind that there are two basic kinds of information that you need to look for in the readings.

1. What are the main points or conclusions that an author accepts with respect to a particular issue?
2. What are the reasons or important considerations that lead the author to accept that conclusion?

For our purposes, it is information of the latter sort (2) that will be our primary concern since our most basic task is to evaluate the reasons that are offered to support accepting one possible conclusion about an issue, rather than another.

Although I strongly suggest that you write out brief answers to these questions, you do not have to turn in written responses. You do, however, need to be prepared to speak intelligently to these issues in the next class meeting. Also, it is reasonable to assume that the final exam’s questions will be drawn from these questions—particularly those in bold.

Readings:

• Richard Swinburne, “Why God Allows Evil” from Stephen M. Cahn (ed.), Philosophy for the 21st Century, pp. 72-80.

Questions:

1. Richard Swinburne claims that “the occurrence of certain evils… is not evidence against [God’s] existence”. In particular, “God cannot give us [the highest] goods in full measure without allowing much evil on the way”. What are these highest goods? What is the difference between “moral evil” and “natural evil”? How does giving us these higher goods necessarily allow moral evil? Natural evil?
2. Given that they reach different conclusions concerning natural evil, Swinburne and David Hume’s Philo from The Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion cannot both be right. Where exactly in their respective arguments do they disagree? Which position is supported by the strongest and most compelling argument?

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