Joshua Yen

In line with the recent talks on the Problem of Evil that I have given at The Vine and The Resurrection Church in Hong Kong, I have just started a series breaking down the problem of evil from both atheistic and theistic perspectives. In the first instalment of the series, I introduce the logical problem of evil. For the full discussion, you can check out the video on my YouTube channel.

What is the logical problem of evil? 

Unlike the evidential problem of evil, or the pastoral problem of evil, the logical problem of evil attempts to demonstrate the incompatibility between God and evil. It is an a priori argument, which means that instead of relying on evidence or experience, it is attempting to argue via pure reason to demonstrate the formal inconsistency of the two ideas. If God exists, then evil cannot exist and vice versa. 

What are some formulations of the logical problem of evil? 

Generic Problem

1. God is all good and all powerful
2. If God is all good and all powerful, evil would not exist.
3. Evil exists
4. God is not all good or not all powerful
5. God does not exist

Proof from contradiction (1) and (4) 

Mackie’s development

1. God is all good and all powerful
2. Goodness is such that it is always opposed to evil and would always eliminate evil
3. If evil exists, then either God is not all good or God is not all powerful
4. Evil exists
5. God is not all good or not all powerful
6. God does not exist

Proof from contradiction (A) and (E) 

Arguments from Specific Evils (let specific evil be the Holocaust)

7. God is all good and all powerful
8. Goodness is such that it is always opposed to evil and would always eliminate the Holocaust
9. If God is all good and all powerful, then the Holocaust would not exist
10. The Holocaust exists
11. God is not all good or not all powerful
12. God does not exist

Proof from contradiction (G) and (K)

The Logical Problem of Evil vs Pastoral Problem of Evil

In discussions on the logical problem of evil, we are merely talking about evil and God from an abstract and conceptual sense. I’m not talking about an individual’s religious experience with God. I’m not talking about someone’s individual experience with evil. For example, if someone’s child dies of cancer or I’m talking to a Jew who’s just escaped Auschwitz. The logical problem of evil is not attempting to recognise the emotional and personal suffering or elation of these individuals. The logical problem of evil is only concerned with one question which is can the abstract concept of evil coexist with an abstract concept of God?

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If you want the full video, check it out here: