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Philosophy / Unit 3   Philosophy 0122 short lesson, about 20 seconds

The Evidential Problem of Evil

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The idea

The evidential problem of evil: even if God and evil can coexist, the amount and kinds of apparently pointless suffering count as strong evidence against God.

In practice

Rowe's case: a fawn burned in a remote forest fire, dying slowly, unseen—suffering that appears to serve nothing.

Where people slip

"Appears pointless" is the hinge. The debate becomes whether appearances here can be trusted.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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