1. By the end of today’s lesson you will:
Be able to define ‘natural evil’ and ‘moral evil’ and give examples of each.
Understand Epicurus’ classical logical problem of evil.
Understand modern developments of the problem of evil from:
Mackie – logical (inconsistent triad)
Rowe – evidential (animal suffering)
Paul – evidential (premature deaths)
Skills Focus
- AO1 – knowledge and understanding
Specialist language and vocabulary
AO2 - Evaluation

2. Spec Check – Component 2: Philosophy Theme 2: Challenges to Religious Belief
AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
AO2 – Issues for Analysis and Evaluation A
The problem of evil and suffering
The extent to which the classical form of the problem of evil is a problem.
The degree to which modern problem of evil arguments are effective in proving God's nonexistence.
Whether Augustinian type theodicies are relevant in the 21st Century.
The extent to which Augustine’s theodicy succeeds as a defence of the God of Classical Theism. Whether Irenaean type theodicies are credible in the 21st Century.
The extent to which Irenaeus’s theodicy succeeds as a defence of the God of Classical Theism. B
Religious responses to evil (i): Augustinian type theodicy C
Religious responses to evil (ii): Irenaean type theodicy D
Religious belief as a product of the human mind – Sigmund Freud
How far religious belief can be considered a neurosis.
The adequacy of Freud’s explanation of religious belief.
The extent to which Jung was more positive than Freud about the idea of God.
The effectiveness of empirical approaches as critiques of Jungian views on religion.
The success of atheistic arguments against religious belief.
The extent to which religious responses to New Atheism have been successful. E
Religious belief as a product of the human mind – Carl Jung F
Issues relating to the rejection of religion: Atheism

3. Spec Check – Component 2: Philosophy Theme 1: Arguments for the existence of God
AO1 – Knowledge and Understanding
AO2 – Issues for Analysis and Evaluation
A: The problem of evil and suffering:
The types of evil: moral (caused by free will agents) and natural (caused by nature).
The logical problem of evil: classical (Epicurus) - the problem of suffering.
J. L. Mackie’s modern development - the nature of the problem of evil (inconsistent triad).
William Rowe (intense human and animal suffering) and
Gregory S. Paul (premature deaths).
The extent to which the classical form of the problem of evil is a problem.
The degree to which modern problem of evil arguments are effective in proving God's nonexistence.

4. STARTER: What is ‘evil’?
EVIL: That which causes pain or suffering.
Read Hick’s explanation of ‘natural evil’ and Swinburne’s explanation of ‘moral evil’.
In your own words, explain what is meant by these two.
MORAL EVIL: Events in which responsible actions by human beings cause suffering or pain.
NATURAL EVIL: Events caused by nature that cause suffering over which humans have little or no control
Now look at the exam board’s definitions. Amend yours if necessary

5. Natural and Moral Evil
You have two minutes to list as many types of natural and moral evil as you can think of...
Look at your lists.
How do these things cause suffering?
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6. Learning check … By the end of the lesson you will:
Be able to define ‘natural evil’ and ‘moral evil’ and give examples of each.
Understand Epicurus’ classical logical problem of evil.
Understand modern developments of the problem of evil from:
Mackie – logical (inconsistent triad)
Rowe – evidential (animal suffering)
Paul – evidential (premature deaths)
Skills Focus
- AO1 – knowledge and understanding
Specialist language and vocabulary
AO2 - Evaluation

7. The Logical Problem of Evil
The God of classical theism is …
All powerful
All knowing
All good/loving
A completely good, all knowing and all powerful God would prevent evil, yet EVIL EXISTS!
What conclusions might therefore be drawn about God?
What specialist vocabulary could you use for these words?

8. The Logical Problem of Evil Epicurus’ Classical Problem
Epicurus ( BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher who founded the school of philosophy called Epicureanism.
His logical problem of evil is often called the classic formulation.
“Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?”

9. The Logical Problem of Evil Epicurus’ Classical Problem
AO2 (Evaluation)
“The classical form of the problem of evil remains a problem for theists” Evaluate this view.
Task: Read p62 in your Eduqas text books and bullet point a response to the above question.

10. Learning check … By the end of the lesson you will:
Be able to define ‘natural evil’ and ‘moral evil’ and give examples of each.
Understand Epicurus’ classical logical problem of evil.
Understand modern developments of the problem of evil from:
Mackie – logical (inconsistent triad)
Rowe – evidential (animal suffering)
Paul – evidential (premature deaths)
Skills Focus
- AO1 – knowledge and understanding
Specialist language and vocabulary
AO2 - Evaluation

11. The Problem of Evil – Modern Developments John L
The Problem of Evil – Modern Developments John L. Mackie’s Inconsistent Triad
God is omnipotent
Inconsistent triad
God is omnibenevolent
Evil exists
Mackie points out that it is logically inconsistent for these three statements to exist simultaneously.

12. The Problem of Evil – Modern Developments John L
The Problem of Evil – Modern Developments John L. Mackie’s Inconsistent Triad
God is omnipotent
Inconsistent triad
Task:
Read pages in your Eduqas book.
How is the problem solved by removing one of the three points of the triad?
Is the solution satisfactory?
Evil exists
God is omnibenevolent

13. The Problem of Evil
18th century philosopher David Hume would have agreed with Epicurus and Mackie. Hume concluded that because the qualities of omnipotence, omnibenevolence and evil cannot exist simultaneously but evil does exist, then the God of classical theism CANNOT EXIST!
According to Hume, the problem of evil is “the rock of atheism”.

14. The Evidential Problem of Evil
Watch this short clip and consider what evidence there is for evil in the world and why this poses a problem for theists.
All Things Dull and Ugly - Monty Python

15. The Evidential Problem of Evil
William Rowe
What does Rowe mean by ‘intense suffering’?
Why does Rowe conclude that, due to evidence of intense suffering in the world, it’s unlikely that God exists?
What examples does Rowe use of (a) intense natural suffering and (b) intense moral suffering?
What possible response might a theist give in defence of God in relation to Rowe’s examples?
Gregory S. Paul
How does Paul’s argument challenge the existence of God?
Does statistical evidence make Paul’s argument stronger? Justify your opinion.
Why does Paul make reference to the inefficiency of prayer?
What possible response might a theist give in defence of God in relation to Paul’s argument?

16. The Problem of Evil AO2 (Evaluation)
“Modern problem of evil arguments are effective in proving God’s non-existence.” Evaluate this view.
Task: Read p63 in your Eduqas text books and bullet point a response to the above question.

17. Learning check … By the end of the lesson you will:
Be able to define ‘natural evil’ and ‘moral evil’ and give examples of each.
Understand Epicurus’ classical logical problem of evil.
Understand modern developments of the problem of evil from:
Mackie – logical (inconsistent triad)
Rowe – evidential (animal suffering)
Paul – evidential (premature deaths)
Skills Focus
- AO1 – knowledge and understanding
Specialist language and vocabulary
AO2 - Evaluation

18. Solutions to The Problem of Evil
You have two minutes to come up with solutions to the problem of evil.
Read the solutions in your workbook. What problems do the solutions have?
What is a ‘theodicy’?
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19. Plenary – If this is the answer, what is the question?
Evil
Moral evil
Natural evil
Classical theism
Logical problem of evil
Classical logical problem of evil
Evidential problem of evil
Inconsistent triad
Intense suffering
Premature deaths