Axiology and the Problem of Evil

Abstract

In this article, I contend that (a) disagreement over the definition of ‘good person’ indicates a challenge for the probabilistic argument from evil (PAE) and (b) the debate between value monism and value pluralism exposes obstacles for the PAE. I also highlight areas for further axiological inquiry with respect to the problem of evil and related problems. My goal is not to argue that the PAE fails, but to examine the axiology of the argument, to investigate some of its vulnerabilities, and to motivate novel evaluations of it by reframing it as an axiological rather than moral issue.

Keywords

• axiology
• problem of evil
• virtue
• suffering
• theism