more on this theme
|
more from this thinker
Single Idea 5766
[filed under theme 29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 3. Problem of Evil / a. Problem of Evil
]
Full Idea
If you could see the plan of Providence, you would not think there was evil anywhere.
Clarification
'Providence' is God as the controller of our reality
Gist of Idea
If you could see the plan of Providence, you would not think there was evil anywhere
Source
Boethius (The Consolations of Philosophy [c.520], IV.VI)
Book Ref
Boethius: 'The Consolations of Philosophy', ed/tr. Watts,V.E. [Penguin 1969], p.141
A Reaction
This brings out the verificationist in me. See Idea 1467, by Antony Flew. Presumably Boethius would retain his faith as Europe moved horribly from 1939 to 1945, and even if the whole of humanity sank into squalid viciousness.
Related Idea
Idea 1467
Religious people seem unwilling to accept any evidence that God does not love us, so their claim is unfalsifiable [Flew, by PG]
The
21 ideas
from 'The Consolations of Philosophy'
23308
|
Reasoning relates to understanding as time does to eternity
[Boethius, by Sorabji]
|
5752
|
Where does evil come from if there is a god; where does good come from if there isn't?
[Boethius]
|
5753
|
The regular events of this life could never be due to chance
[Boethius]
|
5754
|
You can't control someone's free mind, only their body and possessions
[Boethius]
|
5756
|
Happiness is a good which once obtained leaves nothing more to be desired
[Boethius]
|
5757
|
God is the supreme good, so no source of goodness could take precedence over God
[Boethius]
|
5758
|
God is the good
[Boethius]
|
5759
|
Varied aims cannot be good because they differ, but only become good when they unify
[Boethius]
|
5760
|
The power through which creation remains in existence and motion I call 'God'
[Boethius]
|
5761
|
God can do anything, but he cannot do evil, so evil must be nothing
[Boethius]
|
5763
|
The bad seek the good through desire, but the good through virtue, which is more natural
[Boethius]
|
5762
|
The wicked want goodness, so they would not be wicked if they obtained it
[Boethius]
|
5764
|
When people fall into wickedness they lose their human nature
[Boethius]
|
5765
|
The reward of the good is to become gods
[Boethius]
|
5766
|
If you could see the plan of Providence, you would not think there was evil anywhere
[Boethius]
|
16692
|
Divine eternity is the all-at-once and complete possession of unending life
[Boethius]
|
5767
|
Rational natures require free will, in order to have power of judgement
[Boethius]
|
5768
|
God's universal foreknowledge seems opposed to free will
[Boethius]
|
5769
|
Does foreknowledge cause necessity, or necessity cause foreknowledge?
[Boethius]
|
5770
|
Rewards and punishments are not deserved if they don't arise from free movement of the mind
[Boethius]
|
5771
|
Knowledge of present events doesn't make them necessary, so future events are no different
[Boethius]
|