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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
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    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Badness and disorder in the world are caused by the non-rational aspect of the world soul

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Positing a non-rational world soul as co-eternal with God introduces a metaphysical dualism that undermines divine omnipotence more severely than the evils it explains.
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      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Plotinus argues in the Enneads that evil is privation of form rather than a positive causal power, making a non-rational soul-principle explanatorily superfluous.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.If the non-rational world soul is uncreated and independent, God cannot be the sovereign first principle, contradicting the foundational Platonist commitment to the One.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.The disjunctive argument in P2-P4 commits a false trichotomy by excluding the Neoplatonist option that evil arises from matter's privative distance from the Good, requiring no additional soul-principle.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Proclus in De Malorum Subsistentia demonstrates that disorder can be accounted for through hierarchical emanation and degrees of participation without attributing causal agency to an irrational soul.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Badness such as accidents and natural catastrophes exists in the world
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If God is the cause of such phenomena, God's goodness is compromised — which is the Stoic position Plutarch rejects
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.If such phenomena happen without cause, as the Epicureans maintain, God's ruling power is diminished
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Next step

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    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.