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    The tripartite distinction collapses under scrutiny: any ... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Versions of the argument from evil differ significantly with respect to what the relevant fact about evil is.

    The tripartite distinction collapses under scrutiny: any specified evil presupposes a quantity, and any quantity presupposes existence, making these logically nested rather than genuinely distinct.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Logical dependence entails ontological collapse: if evil-types necessarily presuppose prior categories, they lack independent metaphysical status.
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    • 2.Any attempt to specify evil requires quantifying it, which already assumes existence—circular reasoning reveals no genuine distinctions.
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    • 3.Hierarchical nesting (existence→quantity→specification) suggests a single underlying continuum, not three discrete philosophical kinds.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.Logical dependence ≠ ontological identity: shadows depend on objects but remain distinct existential categories worth philosophical analysis.
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    • 2.Specifying evil needn't presuppose quantity; moral evil can be identified qualitatively (badness of intention) prior to measuring degree.
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    • 3.Nested structures commonly maintain genuine distinctions (DNA→proteins→organisms); dependence among levels doesn't dissolve their categorical utility.
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    Key Terms

    Genuinely distinct(how finite modes can be from each other in Spinoza's system)
    Really and truly different in an important way, not just appearing different on the surface.
    Presupposes(as describing what Plantinga's argument takes for granted)
    Assumes something to be true without proving it—like how an argument might presuppose that logic works, without first arguing that logic is valid.
    evil(Spencer's naturalistic definition grounding evil in biological mismatch rather than moral or theological categories)
    The non-adaptation of constitution to conditions
    logically nested(as opposed to being genuinely distinct)
    Arranged in layers where one thing is contained within or depends on another, like Russian dolls. Here, it means the three categories actually depend on each other rather than being separate.
    tripartite distinction(as used in the statement about evil)
    A way of dividing something into three separate categories or types. In this case, it refers to splitting the concept of evil into three different parts.

    Connections

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    Problem of Evil1 linked

    Related

    Any attempt to specify evil requires quantifying it, which already assumes exist...Hierarchical nesting (existence→quantity→specification) suggests a single underl...Logical dependence entails ontological collapse: if evil-types necessarily presu...Logical dependence ≠ ontological identity: shadows depend on objects but remain ...
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    Nested structures commonly maintain genuine distinctions (DNA→proteins→organisms...Specifying evil needn't presuppose quantity; moral evil can be identified qualit...

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit
    Versions of the argument from evil differ significantly with respect to what the...