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WHY GOD IS MOST ASSUREDLY EVIL: CHALLENGING THE EVIL GOD CHALLENGE

Authors :
Chris Byron
Source :
Think. 18:25-35
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2019.

Abstract

The evil God challenge argues that for every theodicy that justifies the existence of an omnibenevolent God in the face of evil, there is a mirror theodicy that can defend the existence of an omnimalevolent God in the face of good. People who invoke the evil God challenge further argue that because we find evil God theodicies to be implausible, we should find good God theodicies to be equally implausible. This article argues that in fact evil God theodicies are more reasonable than good God theodicies by expanding upon arguments offered by David Benatar regarding the nature of existence, and David Hume regarding the asymmetry in our sensations of pain and pleasure.

Details

ISSN :
17551196 and 14771756
Volume :
18
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Think
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........5ecf9b64b6c34c8aaa5476f97b90e928
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1017/s1477175618000325