Friday, August 30, 2019

Evil is a problem for atheism

The problem of evil is usually treated as a problem for Christianity. But is it actually a greater problem for atheism?

Nagasawa gives an argument from evil against atheism -- or, more precisely, against what he calls "existentially optimistic" atheism, the sort of atheism which regards the world as a place worth being happy and grateful to be alive in. He argues that the fact that the world's evil and suffering seems embedded in basic systems (like evolution) is a problem for these existentially optimistic atheists, and so in a sense the problem of evil applies just as much to (existentially optimistic) atheism as to theism. Theists actually have an advantage in replying to the problem of evil, because of their view that there is so much more to the world than material reality that might factor into the balance of evil and good in the world.  
https://ndpr.nd.edu/news/the-problem-of-evil-eight-views-in-dialogue/

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