Solutions to the problem of evil. The Problem of Evil states that because evil exists the existence of the Inconsistent Triad, which we refer to as God, is impossible.
Solutions to the Problem of Evil
The Problem of Evil states that because evil exists the existence of the Inconsistent Triad, which we refer to as God, is impossible. This argument, if proved to be true, would disagree with the Cosmological Argument for God’s Existence. The Cosmological Argument states that everything that exists was caused to exist. The disproving of God (and all theories proving the existence of God) would be disastrous to the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas and all people who believe in the existence of a tri-omni being (eternal first cause). Fortunately for these people, there are solutions to the Problem of Evil, which will be discussed below.
Some argue that the Problem of Evil is unimportant because there is no such thing as evil. The vital part of this argument depends upon the definition of evil. In general, evil is defined as needless suffering. In reality, suffering exists and there is not always a need for it. So, needless suffering and also evil do exist. This argument does not disagree with the Problem of Evil. Since God is the being to which the Problem of Evil poses the greatest problem, maybe the definition of God can be altered to allow evil. This does not work for several reasons. First, the Cosmological Argument only proves one definition of God. By changing the definition of God there is no longer any point to the matter because the Cosmological Argument and so the Problem of Evil becomes irrelevant. Second, you may say that changing the definition of God is not solving the problem, but is evading it instead; it’s similar to giving up. Some people known believe in the existence of God based on faith alone. Believing in something based on faith alone by its nature does not require any evidence. Under ‘Fideism’ it is acceptable for a person to believe that the moon is made of cheese, that Santa Claus exists, or that there are mermaids. It simply doesn’t make any sense. However, Fideism does not solve the Problem of Evil for the simple fact that it does not address it at all. Another possibility is that what appears to be evil to us actually has a divine reason which we cannot understand. This is the belief is held by Theists.
