Why Does Evil Exist J.L. Mackie examines the Problem of Evil, while John Hick and other philosophers propose adequate solutions to the dilemma. Throughout time philosophers have developed many theodicy to explain the “Problem of Evil” Most of which however center around the core ideas of Augustine and Ireanean theodicy which apply the ideas of “soul-making”, and “Free-Will”. This term paper will review the reasoning behind the existence of evil and God simultaneously, and apply some of the solutions
In this paper, I will examine how the presence of evil makes it unreasonable to believe in the existence of God by using arguments and propositions presented in Mackie`s ``Evil and Omnipotence`` and Van Inwagen`s ``The problem of Evil, Air and Silence``. Mackie`s paper examines various fallacious solutions presented by the theists against his presented problem of evil and he also, explains the validity of his position as a friendly atheist. On the other hand, Van Inwagen paper explains that there
Using two articles “On the Origin of Good and Evil” by Richard Taylor and “Why Morality Is Not Relative” by James Rachels from the book Moral Life: An Introductory Reader in Ethics and Literature, authors Louis P. Pojman and Lewis Vaughn, this essay will first try to identify what each of the two articles says about the nature of good and evil, and the relativity of morality. The main points of scholars Taylor and Rachels are that good and evil happens naturally in us, and we should not judge another
typically thought that humans are born ethically good and are then corrupted by society. Quite contrarily, author William Golding clearly expresses in his novel Lord of the Flies that humanity is indeed evil in nature, and that these “defects” are the reason for which there exists manifold problems in our societies. Within his writing Golding provides evidence to this claim, the first being the “beast” in the novel which symbolizes the darkness that resides within each human being that evokes our
comparative analysis essay will be written over Friedrich Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil, and Dr. Martin Luther King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail. Friedrich Nietzsche was born in Prussia in 1844. He wrote Beyond Good and Evil in 1886 after the Civil War and before World War 1. Although Nietzsche’s father was a Lutheran preacher, he writes Beyond Good and Evil out of the materialism aspect of ultimate reality. Friedrich Nietzsche promoted the ethical model of aristocracy in Beyond Good and Evil and supported
The terms of “good” and “evil” have been defined in different ways by a good number of sources. According to the Oxford Dictionary “good” means “having the required qualities, of a high standard; possessing or displaying moral virtue” and “evil” means “profoundly immoral and wicked.” What might at first seem like a clear opposition between the two concepts becomes extra complex after a thorough study. The dichotomy between good and evil has been heavily discussed by critics, whether a clear divide
Hannah Arendt is considered one of the most influential political theorists in the 20th century. She analyzed topics concerning anti-Semitism, discrimination, evil, and how societies function. Like most people, her life very much influences her thoughts and actions. An example of this is Arendt’s mother Martha Arendt who taught her not to withstand the anti-Semitism that occurred post World War One in Germany. This caused Arendt to transform into a headstrong woman that “when attacked as a Jew, one
Analysis of “Can Christians Wield the Sword?” This is an analysis of “Can Christians Wield the Sword?” by Shawn Lazar in Grace in Focus, November and December 2014, pages 21-25. The following is the impression that Mr. Lazar gives in his article. Mr. Lazar presents Jehovah as a god of war. He is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek god Ares and the Roman god Mars. According to Mr. Lazar, war and violence are love: They are the highest form of love that Jehovah can express. Whether against their
that eventually lead them to the ultimate goal of solving the mystery. Whatever their method may be to get to the conclusion is not very important, the steps to get there are what draws the readers in. Both detectives have very different styles of problem solving and different personal interests which makes them all the more interesting. In Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Murders at the Rue Morgue” his lead detective is C. Auguste Dupin. Dupin becomes involved in solving the mystery surrounding the brutal
appealing to the audience and their desire. In Medea, Medea is viewed as a monstrous force or monster through her actions derived from psychological problems or injuries, feminism, immorality, betrayal, trauma and connection with the gods rather than grotesque appearance. Any one of these alone wouldn’t accurately give a valid interpretation and analysis of Medea in terms of a monstrous force, psychological monster,