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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
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Soul-making theodicies (Hick) presuppose that epistemic and moral development justifies suffering, yet natural evils predate any rational agent capable of such development by millions of years.

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

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Millions of years of animal suffering served no soul-making purpose for those creatures, making their pain gratuitous on Hick's own criteria.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.An omnipotent deity could instantiate morally developed agents directly or via brief, minimal suffering rather than eons of needless pain.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Justifying present human suffering by past conditions doesn't explain why those initial conditions required suffering in the first place.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Pre-human suffering created conditions (natural laws, stable universe) necessary for eventual rational agents to exist and develop morally.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Soul-making applies to humanity's response to natural evil inherited from evolutionary history, not requiring agents present during its origin.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.A universe without deep time suffering couldn't produce beings capable of genuine moral growth through confronting real hardship.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

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