The problem of evil for theists was how to reconcile suffering with a benevolent god. In considering his alternative of the general providence hume is shown to be closer to theism than has often been thought. If it doesnt try to answer hume, move on to one that does. Mill, for example, suggested a radical weakening of 1 and 2. If a book can answer hume, it can answer most skeptics today. Humes fundamental problem of evil cambridge university press. A summary of dialogues concerning natural religion in s david hume 1711 1776. The problem of evil is the question of how to reconcile the existence of evil and suffering with an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient god. The most rational position, he says, is a philosophical belief in some. Humes dialogues concerning natural religion utilizes three. Voltaire, hume, and the problem of evil johns hopkins university. In another article, humes solution to the necessitarian problem of evil. Problem of evil and the design argument in order to explain the problem of evil, how it figures in humes discussion of the argument from design and whether there is a personal acceptance of it, each point needs to be examined.
In chapter ten of his book dialogues concerning natural religion, david hume discusses the problem of evil. T his is the classic philosophical assault on the idea of god being allgood, allwise, and allpowerful. David hume famously expressed the problem of evil in his his book, dialogues concerning natural religion 1779. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A novel description language for twoagent dialogue games. The position maintained here understands humes treatment of the problem of evil. The problem of evil david hume humanities libertexts. The book takes the form of a play, in which three characters debate religion. The fundamental problem of evil for hume, was evil s potential to drive people to the notion of a particular providence with its attendant damaging passions. God does not exist as a consequence of this it follows that either god is not. If he is willing but unable he is feeble, which is not in accordance with the character of god. Life after death experience nde with steve gardipee, vietnam war story one of the best ndes duration.
A summary of part x in david humes dialogues concerning natural religion. Since well before humes time, the problem has been the basis of a positive argument for atheism. Pick 5 books and well tell you what you should bingewatch while youre social. The problem of evil is one of oldest and most intractable problems in the. He appeals to the position that he has been pushing all along. The cosmological argument and gods necessaryexistence. As the first known presentation by the greek philosopher epicurus, as attributed and made popular by david hume, puts it. The book was published after humes death, because attacking religious beliefs was considered a sensitive subject. The first position has hume denying any form of supernaturalism, and is. David humes various writings concerning problems of religion are among the. The problem of evil and the design argument 1487 words. A benevolent and omnipotent creator does not exist c. A summary of dialogues concerning natural religion in s david hume 17111776.
The problem of evil 393 since hume, there have been attempts to solve the problem of evil by attacking or reinterpreting one of the first four assumptions. David humes formulation of the problem of evil in dialogues concerning natural religion. Hume on religion stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. In this way, it is philos position that all we know about god is that he exists. Hume on evil god either wishes to take away evils and is unable.
Using three fictional charactersdemea, cleanthes and philowho are debating the problem the evil, hume indeed seeks to show that one cannot demonstrate that god is all good and all powerful using human experience and human understanding alone. Admitting your position, replied philo, which yet is extremely doubtful, you must at. A brief introduction to humes explanation of the problem of evil. My top 5 books on the problem of evil christianity today. Process theology and open theism are other positions that limit gods. Pick 5 books and well tell you what you should bingewatch while youre.
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