Organic unities: A response to the problem of evil

• Main Author: Floyd, G. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Catholic University of Louvain 2019
• Subjects: G. E. Moore; God; Organic Unities; Problem of Evil; Value
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 The principle of organic unities is a metaphysical claim regarding the nature of moral value. It states that the value of the whole is not equal to the summation of its parts. I wish to consider this principle in relation to the problem of God and evil and claim that the theist can utilize the principle of organic unities to undermine the problem of evil. First, I explain the principle of organic unities and how it affects one’s understanding of moral value. Next, I explicate the two major historical versions of the problem of evil: the logical argument from evil and the evidential argument from evil. Lastly, I argue that the principle of organic unities demonstrates that God may logically co–exist with evil and that the atheist lacks rational warrant appealing to gratuitous evil against God’s existence. As a result, both problems fail. © 2019, Catholic University of Louvain. All rights reserved.