The Problem of Evil

The Free Will Defence (FWD from here on) is but a subset of arguments used in an attempt to add consistency to the Problem of Evil (POE from here on.) In turn POE is but a subset of a greater argument, that if this can be ``proved'' it would make arguments for the existence of good somewhat stronger.

This POE theodicy consists of basically a defence for the goodness and omnipotence of God in light of the existence of evil. It's based on the traditional Christian theology which states that God has the following attributes: omniscience, omnipotence, omni-benevolence, and the ``unmoved mover'' or uncreated creator of all things.

The problem with those attributes of God is that there exists a logical inconsistency. This inconsistency is that if God (this all-perfect, all-good being) created the universe then he would create a universe that is all-perfect and all-good. However, the universe is not all-perfect, and it's not all-good. So the conclusion that one may draw from these premises is that either (a) God is able and unwilling to create a universe absent from all perfection, or (b) God is unable and wanting to create a universe absent from all perfection. As such, considering (a) would entail that God is not all-good, and considering (b) would entail that God is not all-powerful.

The FWD, then, consists of a line of attack to help resolve this seemly contradictory set of statements. For clarification and simplicity, the set of arguments that constitute the anti-theist's response is as follows (we shall call it set A):

1. God is all-powerful, all-knowledgeable and all-good
2. Since God is all-powerful, God can prevent Evil.
3. Since God is all-knowledgeable, God is aware of all evil and knows how to eliminate it.
4. Evil exists
5. Therefore, God is either not all powerful, not all knowledgeable, or not all good. But since (1), then God does not exist.