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John Mackie:Evil And Omnipotence


             limits to what an omnipotent thing can do. From these it follows that a good.
             omnipotent thing eliminates evil completely, and then the propositions that a.
             good omnipotent thing exists, and that evil exists, are incompatible"(p.160). .
             Mackie states that a good, omnipotent being would eliminate evil entirely, and.
             it is impossible that a good omnipotent being exists while there is still evil in.
             the world.
             The next part of Mackie's argument is outlined in his fallacious-solutions.
             section. It is here that the solutions to the problem of evil will prove.
             applicable but fallacious through argument. Through the use of four distinct.
             solutions, Mackie explains that his goal in each section will be to consider.
             whether or not it is possible to arrive at an adequate solution by modifying.
             parts of each solution. .
             Mackie's first solution is: "Good cannot exist without.
             evil" or "Evil is necessary as a counterpart to good"(p. 162). Mackie examines.
             the point that if there were no evil, there would be no barometer by which we as.
             humans could judge whether an action is good or evil. The question over whether God is bound by logical necessities is discussed next. Mackie goes on to relate good and evil as counterparts, much the same way as one would relate great and small. Mackie states that great and small are words that may be used as counterparts, yet they cannot be used as set features for anything. This comparison is done to explain that great and small cannot exist without each other. Mackie then uses another analogy to show how good and evil.
             are used in a complimentary manner. Mackie uses redness as an example to show.
             that the only way we know that something is red is because of the things that.
             are not red. Without the non-red things, one would never have noticed the red.
             things. He then elaborates that we observe and give names to qualities if they.
             have real opposites (i.e. good vs. evil). With this fact at hand, "the rule.


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