Introduction to Philosophy: Overhead

Introduction to Philosophy	Notes	This is not a substitute for coming to class	Richard Lee
Philosophy 2003 C 001	Notes	Copyright © 1999, Richard Lee	Spring 1999

The (Logical) Problem of Evil: Flow of the argument:

9. There is evil. [(1) & (2) modus ponens]
10. If God is all powerful, then God is able to prevent the existence of all evil. [(6) & (7) pure hypothetical syllogism]
11. God does not prevent the existence of all evil. [(8) & (9) modus tollens]
12. If God exists, then God is able to prevent the existence of all evil. [(3) & (10) pure hypothetical syllogism]
13. If God exists, then if God is able to prevent the existence of all evil, then God does prevent the existence of all evil. [(4) & (5) pure hypothetical syllogism]
14. If God exists, then God does prevent the existence of all evil. [(12) & (13) unnamed valid argument form: If p, then q; If p, then if q, then r; Therefore, if p, then r.]
C. It is not the case that God exists. [(14) & (11) modus tollens]

Richard Lee, rlee@comp.uark.edu, last modified: 12 February 1999

9.	There is evil. [(1) & (2) modus ponens]
10.	If God is all powerful, then God is able to prevent the existence of all evil. [(6) & (7) pure hypothetical syllogism]
11.	God does not prevent the existence of all evil. [(8) & (9) modus tollens]
12.	If God exists, then God is able to prevent the existence of all evil. [(3) & (10) pure hypothetical syllogism]
13.	If God exists, then if God is able to prevent the existence of all evil, then God does prevent the existence of all evil. [(4) & (5) pure hypothetical syllogism]
14.	If God exists, then God does prevent the existence of all evil. [(12) & (13) unnamed valid argument form: If p, then q; If p, then if q, then r; Therefore, if p, then r.]
C.	It is not the case that God exists. [(14) & (11) modus tollens]