The Epicurean Paradox
The “Problem of Evil” is perhaps the most formidable challenge to Western monotheism. It asks: If God is all-powerful (Omnipotent), all-knowing (Omniscient), and all-good (Omnibenevolent), why does evil exist?
The challenge is often framed as a trilemma attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus:
- If God is willing to prevent evil but not able, He is not all-powerful.
- If He is able but not willing, He is malevolent (or at least not all-good).
- If He is both able and willing, why is there evil?
Categorizing Evil
Philosophers distinguish between two types of evil:
- Moral Evil: Suffering caused by the intentional actions or negligence of human beings (e.g., murder, theft, war).
- Natural Evil: Suffering caused by natural processes that are independent of human will (e.g., earthquakes, cancer, famines).
The Logical Problem vs. The Evidential Problem
1. The Logical Problem of Evil
Proponents of this view, like J.L. Mackie, argue that the existence of God and the existence of any evil are logically contradictory. If God is perfectly good, He would want to eliminate all evil. If He is all-powerful, He could do so. Therefore, the fact that evil exists proves that such a God cannot exist.
2. The Evidential Problem of Evil
Proposed by William Rowe, this version acknowledges that some evil might be necessary for a greater good. However, it argues that the sheer amount and pointlessness of suffering in the world (e.g., a fawn dying slowly in a forest fire) make it highly improbable that an OMNI-God exists. Even if God and evil aren’t strictly contradictory, the evidence of our world strongly suggests no such God is in charge.
Theodicies: Defending God’s Goodness
A “theodicy” is an attempt to justify the ways of God to man—to explain why a good God would allow evil.
1. The Free Will Defense
The most influential response, championed by St. Augustine and modern philosopher Alvin Plantinga. It argues that God gave humans free will because a world with free creatures is more valuable than a world of programmed robots. However, for free will to be genuine, people must have the capacity to choose evil. Thus, moral evil is the result of human choice, not God’s design.
- Counter: This does not easily explain “natural evil.” Why do children die of leukemia?
2. Soul-Making Theodicy
Developed by Irenaeus and popularized by John Hick. It suggests that the world was not intended to be a “hedonistic paradise” but a “vale of soul-making.” Challenges, pain, and hurdles are necessary for humans to develop virtues like courage, compassion, and perseverance. Without the possibility of suffering, these “higher” virtues could not exist.
3. The Best of All Possible Worlds
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz argued that God, being perfect, must have created the best possible world. While this world contains evil, any other possible world would have even more evil or less overall good. Evil is like the shadows in a painting that are necessary to highlight the beauty of the whole.
4. Skeptical Theism
This view suggests that humans are simply not in a position to judge God’s reasons. Just as a toddler cannot understand why a doctor must give them a painful injection for their own health, we cannot grasp the infinite “big picture” that justifies the suffering we see.
Conclusion
The Problem of Evil remains a central pillar of atheistic arguments and a profound challenge for believers. It forces us to confront our definitions of “goodness,” “power,” and the ultimate purpose of human existence. Whether one finds the theodicies convincing often depends on whether they view the universe as essentially meaningful or fundamentally indifferent.