Re: Eradicating the riddle of Epicurus: the problem of evil

Looks like the problem of evil is a bit more pernicious than mikecampochiaro would have you believe.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Theism
• atheism
• agnosticism
• problem of evil
• epicurus
• mikecampochiaro

[deathtris]

Wait, so do you believe that good and evil are not subjective, or did you just say that this disproves God? (I'm more concerned about the first point than the second).

[SisyphusRedeemed]

@deathtris I actually don't really like the term 'evil' when talking about my own view point (as opposed to when playing the theists' language game.) But in short, I don't believe they are subjective, nor do I believe they are objective. The nature of value itself is what disproves (this specific version of) God.

[YamiAura]

I think there's a big point overlooked, here. We are capable of understanding concepts without experiencing them. For example, I can tell you all about the idea of extraterrestrial life without ever experiencing it. Why can't we express an understanding of what evil is without having to experience it directly? We're not that stupid.

[SisyphusRedeemed]

@YamiAura You understand extraterrestrial life because you understand the two atomistic components: you know 'life' because you interact with it (and are it), and you know 'extraterrestrial' because you see things that are it (e.g.-light from stars). I'm not sure we can reduce 'evil' to components. But even if we can, I doubt they will be components that a perfect God could grasp.

[DOUGIEFRESHENz]

I don't know why God has to follow the rule of good/evil relevance if he is supposedly not subject to any other rules. I see the logic in your argument but you cannot say this in reference to the Christian God, and I presume you are, because he is supposed to be good in every respect, which makes your point subjective to the whole idea of God.

[SisyphusRedeemed]

@DOUGIEFRESHENz Not sure exactly what you mean by 'the rule of good/evil', but suffice to say the Christian God is not immune to the problem of evil.

[Synaux]

Allow me to jump in and ask why Hegelian dialectics has be widely discarded (I assume this is what you are referring to)?

While I am not sure Hegelian dialectics may not be the most apropos for the discussion of evil (as I believe that good and evil both have some basal qualities regardless of perspective).

Hegelian Dialectics, should not be discounted as a valid exercise for critical thinking and perhaps I am flat wrong, but Hegelian dialectics can be a wonderful lens for analysis.

[MrPyle3]

@SisyphusRedeemed u need 2 open ur mind in a different direction(Biology)...I not 2 long ago learnt abt it , it's called Variation... the variation between Good and Evil is a form of discontinuous variation, there is no neutral or anythin "in between" any form of discontinuous variation... It's like takin no 'side' in a fight between a very weak person and a very strong person. By doin this, u are allowin the strong 2 hurt the weak and therefore ur actions are against the weak and vise~versa...

[MrPyle3]

5:58-6:02...So much evil yet It doesn't truly sound as though u respect the good at all/:)... Bless up

[Pooknottin]

Woah! Took literally years for me to notice this vid. You were so much more thorough than I was back then. I guess that's why Mike never got back to you. I was Youmeandsomeknives back then. Gave up the ghost, but I never had much fight truth be told.

I have to express admiration for your piercing attention to detail. Thanks, it was all very well thought out and quite thought provoking. Guess I was something of an 'angry turk' so he picked on me.

First time it's been nice to revisit it. Thanks.

[jreaper5000000]

its the ying yang . for good sometimes evil has to be done and for bad good has to be done. the bible tells you this. read the bloody bible for crying out loud people. its a code a spectrum of two opposing forces,its simple.as we have two eyes, two noses, two ears,ect... which is the stereo,we also have one nose,one bellybutton,one sexual part ect.. which is the mono. the same code is in everything.we have man,woman. child adult. boy,girl. night and day. sun, moon. its a code.just be good!!!!!!!

[MarshmallowRadiation]

A: HEAVEN is supposed to be all good and no evil. Does that mean it cannot be appreciated?

B: Why isn't evil spread evenly? If life is a test, why aren't people tested equally?

C: If God already knows how well people will do in the test, why test them at all?

[Kodos777]

Just adding something: Heaven is all good. If there is no evil in heaven how can we appreciate it? And if we can't appreciate heaven it looses its purpose as a reward for believers.

[YamiAura]

@SisyphusRedeemed We understand extraterrestrial life because we were introduced to the concept through fiction, as well. We have a frame of reference without having to look at reality. If it is so necessary to understand evil to appreciate goodness, why couldn't God allow us to understand evil through story-telling without actually introducing it to reality?