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Single Idea 24164

[catalogued under 29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 3. Problem of Evil / a. Problem of Evil]

Full Idea

Natural and moral evil is not just a problem for theists. …Anyone can wonder what, if anything, makes the universe a good one when it contains so much suffering.

Gist of Idea

Even non-theists can wonder what, if anything, makes the universe good

Source

Tom Cochrane (The Aesthetic Value of the World [2021], 0.1)

A Reaction

I take Bernard Williams to be definitive on this topic. I would personally say that the universe as a whole has no value one way or the other. If you think it might be good, you should enquire after the source of your idea. What is the universe FOR?

Book Reference

Cochrane,Tom: 'The Aesthetic Value of the World' [OUP 2021], p.1

Related Idea

Idea 2175 There is a problem of evil only if you expect the world to be good [Williams,B]