God And Evil: An Introduction To The Issues

145 Pages·1998·9.48 MB·English

by  Michael L Peterson

I
An
Introduction
to
the
Issues
Michael L. Peterson
God and Evil
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God and Evil
An Introduction to the Issues
Michael L. Peterson
ASBURY COLLE61:.
estview
A N rnbci th,: Pcrscits Books Group
All ri;;Ins rc-sei.--, .d. Primed in ihe ITnitc‘.1 States of Anleri,-.1. No pail of ;his p,:blie,1-
lion may reproduced oi trans:iiiiied in nm or Is% Ain or
mmucmL intliniinr, ot oi- iniOrm.uion reiricy a1
.'stem, '. iihoi perinkSi( in U1\\I miin (
Copyright 1998 by Wcsiview Press.. A .\1, ol Perseus 9floks Group
Publislied in 1998 o the lniirJ Siaies .1rnet-1.-ri hy, West ic...\\ Press, 5500 Central
Aseinie, olorado 80.1101-2877, and in the I. 'lined. 1<irt..4,1oin by \Vest \
pres,, 17 1-lid's Road.. Citinnor I fill, tiNtord 911
Libiary of Cr-im,-re-cs Caidloging•in-Piii)iicalion Data
Peterson; 114-1,-Hici 1, I
G■Ai rid cii introduction to the issues / by Michael L.
Pelerson.
p. cm.
Includys hiblioym-aphical references ..ind huh:\ .
ISBN 0-81K-1-2848 9 — ii; •8133. 2849 7
1, Good and e‘ii, 2. R. Philo.sopliy 1, fitle,
1111-101.1'47 098
214-1.1.:21 98-18429
Gil'
'the riper inert in this publication in•-ts the requirements of the z-V,.ricail National
Standard or Permanence of Papci ;or Primed Library Materials Z39.48-1984.
PERSEUS'
1 0L
3
1.).1.:Al,kND) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4
For. my sons,
Aaron and A da
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Contents
Prifiicr ix
1 The Problem of Evil and Its Place
in Philosophy of Religion
Evil in Human Existence, 1
Evil and Religious Belief, 6
The Philosophical Difficulty, 8
The ClasNilication of Evil, 10
Notes, 14
Suggested Readings, 15

2 The Logical Problem of Evil 17
Statement of the Problem, 17
The Structure and Strategy of the Argument, 19
Versions of the Argument, 23
The Burden of Proof, 27
Notes, 31
Suggested Readings, 31

3 The Function of Defense 33
The lee Will Defense, 33
'The Compatibilist Position, 35
The Incompatibilist Rejoinder, 37
The Current State of the Debate, 41
Notes. 43
Suggested Readings, 45

4 The Probabilistic Problem of Evil 47
An Initial Skirmish, 47
A Modified Prohabiliiv Argument, 49
vii
viii CfnileHIS
Three Probabilistic Arguments from Evil, 52
Reformed Epistemology and Evil, 56
Notes, 61
Suggested Readings, 64
5 The Problem of Gratuitous Evil 67
Can There Be an 1..‘idential Argumentfrom Evil? 67
Versions ()f the E\ idential :\rgument, 69
Anahting he Evidential Argument from
-
Cyrattlitous Exit, 73
The Appearance of Evil, 74
Notes, 79
Suggested Reading•s 81
6 The Task of Thcodicy 85
The Prospects for Theodicy, 85
Augustine's Free Will Tiheodicy, 89
Leihniz's Best Possible World Thcodicv, 92
Hick's Soul-Making Theodicv 94
Whiteheats Process Theodicy, 99
Theodicv and the Assessment of Theism, 103
Notes, 103
Suggested Readings, 108
7 The Existential Problem of Evil 111
The E\perience olGratuitcws Evil, 111
Evfl and Personal Identity, 114
The logic of Regret, 11.7
\istentiat Authenticity and Evil, 119
The Defeat of Horrendous Evil, 124
Notes, 127
Stig.,ested Readings, 130
,
131
Preface
This volume is an introduction to the problem of evil as it is currently
discussed in professional philosophy. I have designed the book for use
in an acadeini,. setting, \\ ith hopes that both student and scholar may
-
find many points interesting and pros ocative. I also trust tliat the seri-
ous and thoiqtlit lid person outside academia may bencni from my
treatment of this perennially important subject.
No proiect of this sort is a purely priN ate undertaking. Over the
years. I ha\ e benefited fioni hk:lpfiddiscussions on the problem of e ii
with .1l\ in Plantinga, Edward Madden. Peter !lark:, William Ilasker,
Da\ id Basinger, Bruce Reidienbach, and Jerry Walls. I ha ‘c appreci-
ated the encouragement of the Asbury (.oIicge administration during
my writing. I am also thankful to Pew Charitable Trusts tin funding
-
my research during the 1992 -1993 academic year.
I am not completely sure why I continue to be fascinated by the
problem ol evil in all ()fits permutations. In part, I am astonished by
the great profusion of suffering and evil around us and am driven to
ponder it ()a behalf of those who ask, "Why'?" And, in part. I am stag •
gered at the capacity br evil within us and ant thereby drawn to the
issues oilit-ern:lig God and evil. Although I and conscious or the
-
strange mi %lure of good and evil in our world, I am more mindful of
how important it is to orient oneself propel I\ toward these realities.
-
I dedicate this hook to my sons, Aaron and Adam, in whom I take
great pleasure and delight. They ,ire certainly two immeasurable
kgoods in HIV lire that show mc just how much \ aim: there is in a world
that cc intains oil. Their goodness e en makes me a better person. My
fatherly hope fOr them is that they vill resist oil in all its forms and
that they will love and seek the FpOd in all things.
Mil/PIC/L. 1-',.n.rsoil
ix