Blake Hereth

“Escaping Evil”

Abstract: The argument from evil is an argument against the existence of God. In fact, there are two major arguments from evil. The first is the logical argument from evil: if evil exists, then God cannot also exist. The second is the evidential argument from evil: if evil exists, then God probably does not exist. In response, theists (believers in God) have made three major kinds of replies. The first is defense: God could be justified in permitting evil. The second is theodicy: God is justified in permitting evil, and we know why she is justified in permitting it. The third is skeptical theism: we wouldn’t know one way or the other whether God is justified in permitting evil. But there are significant limitations or flaws with all of these responses. Defenses fail to show that God is actually justified in permitting evil. Theodicies, whatever else they might show, are morally repugnant and wrong to defend. And skeptical theism, if successful, implies that we lack moral knowledge altogether.