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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
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that We cannot vindicate God's infinite power and goodness by assuming this world is the perfect creation of a perfect being, because that assumption is precisely what needs to be established.

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

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.There is overwhelming evidence of unnecessary and inexplicable evil in the world.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Explaining away evidence of evil by assuming a perfect creator commits circular reasoning.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.The assumption that this world is the perfect creation of a perfect being must be established independently, not presupposed.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Philo's argument in Hume's Dialogues shows that empirical observation of the world yields only a finite, imperfect cause, not an infinite perfect deity.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Inferring God's perfection from an imperfect world violates the proportionality principle: causes must be proportioned to observed effects.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Positing a perfect creator to explain an imperfect world introduces an explanatory entity whose properties systematically exceed all available evidence.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason against 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.J.L. Mackie's logical problem of evil demonstrates that omnipotence, omnibenevolence, and evil form an internally inconsistent triad without added ad hoc assumptions.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Any theodicy that presupposes divine perfection to dissolve the inconsistency is question-begging, as Antony Flew's falsification challenge established.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.A claim requiring its own conclusion as a premise fails the basic epistemic standard of non-circular justification that all valid inference demands.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

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