Does Evil Disprove God I Professor W. Matthews Grant
Nov 1, 2023
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W. Matthews Grant, a professor and chair in the Department of Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas, discusses the problem of evil and its implications for the existence of God. He explores different types of evil, delves into the nature of natural evil and its connection to material objects, and explores the hierarchy of goods and evils. Grant also raises questions about why God allows evil to exist and explores the relationship between evil and the realization of good.
Natural evil serves a purpose in the creation of a material universe and contributes to the perfection of the ecosystem.
God permits moral evil to enable the realization of significant moral and spiritual goods, such as acts of forgiveness and justice.
Deep dives
Reasons for Permitting Natural Evil
Natural evil, such as corruption and decay, is part of the package of creating a material universe. It comes along with the good of creating an ecosystem where the actions of one material thing tend to come at the expense of others. By permitting natural evil, God allows for the existence of goods that depend on it and contribute to the perfection of the universe, such as the flourishing of fire at the expense of consuming oxygen.
Preventing Complacency and Redirecting Focus
God permits natural evil to prevent human beings from becoming complacent or satisfied with the enjoyment of this world. By allowing suffering and adversity, it reminds us that our ultimate happiness and fulfillment cannot be found in earthly pleasures alone, but rather in a deeper union with God. Natural evils serve as reminders that our true happiness lies beyond the material world.
Moral and Spiritual Goods
God permits moral evil, the evil that humans do, in order to make possible significant moral and spiritual goods. Heroic acts of sacrifice, forgiveness, and mercy are only possible in a world that allows for the existence of moral evil. By permitting moral evil, God allows the display of virtues and values that require the presence of evil in order to be realized. This includes acts of forgiveness, justice, and the ability to combat and overcome evil.
The Free Will Defense
One possible response to the problem of moral evil is the free will defense. It suggests that the world is better with morally significant freedom, which includes the ability to choose between good and evil. God cannot ensure that humans always choose good without undermining our freedom. The permission of moral evil is a necessary consequence of the free will bestowed upon humans, allowing for moral responsibility and the possibility of choosing good over evil.
W. Matthews Grant is Professor and Chair in the Department of Philosophy at University of St. Thomas (MN), and Associate Editor of the American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly. His articles have focused on Aquinas and the Philosophy of God, particularly issues having to do with the divine nature and God’s relationship to human freedom. His new book Free Will and God’s Universal Causality: The Dual Sources Account, draws resources from Aquinas and the scholastic tradition to explain how libertarian creaturely freedom can be reconciled with robust accounts of God’s providence, grace, and predestination.
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