Plato s Argument For Evil - 1402 Words

One of the most influential and quoted verses in the atheist community can be traced back to ancient Greece. An analysis of Epicurus’ Argument for Evil reveals a challenge for Christians: can an omnibenevolent God exist in a world full of evil? Now, the philosopher was not talking about the Abrahamic God, he was focused more on the gods of his culture in Greece. So in order to use the words of Epicurus as an argument against the views of God held by modern day Christians, we must make some assumptions. Epicurus’ argument takes a logical and deductive analytical route with the existence of evil. This argument is not capable of being used to debate whether any God exists in general, instead it narrowly defines what a God is expected to do as an omnibenevolent being. This argument does allow for a God to exist that differs from traditional Christianity and does not care about or meddles in our personal lives. In western Christianity it is widely believed that god is in control of literally everything and it all happens as a part of his perfect plan, that we probably wouldn t understand. Even if that plan includes the suffering of innocent children. Epicurus is not trying to show that the existence of gods are impossible, but improbable. The goal of his statement is not to get the reader to reject the existence of gods, but to consider that the existence of gods are unlikely and probably not worth worrying about. Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is notShow MoreRelatedPlato s Meno As A Socratic Discussion On Human Sexuality And Age1686 Words   |  7 PagesPlato s Meno is a Socratic discussion on the definition of human virtues where the main participants are Socrates and Meno. Other speakers in the dialogue include an Athenian politician, one of Meno s slaves, and Socrates’ prosecutor Anytus, who is a friend to Meno. Meno wants to understand the broad definition of human virtues and while visiting Athens he initiates the dialogue on virtues with Socrates. The discussion begins with Meno inquiring from Socrates whether virtues can be learned. MenoRead MoreHuman Nature : Good Or Evil1053 Words   |  5 PagesGood or Evil All ideologies, including some economic ideologies, produce theories of human nature in order to establish fundamental human rights and to establish a more productive form of government. Human nature refers to the distinguishing characteristics of humans, including ways of thinking, feeling and acting; it is the moral principles that construct certain standards of behavior, which every person is entitled to simply because they are a human being. Many philosophers such as Plato, AristotleRead MoreThe Slave By Frederick Douglass972 Words   |  4 PagesConcepts, techniques, and ways of thinking can last much longer than their creators. The philosophy of Plato is an example of that. Its ideas can be found in a speech written thousands of years later. In â€Å"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?† Frederick Douglass, a former slave, addresses an audience of white abolitionists on July 5th of 1852. He focuses on the disparity between the American values celebrated on the Indep endence Day and the issue of slavery. To do so, Douglass raises the questionRead MoreCritical View Into Philip Zimbardo s Stanford Prison Experiment 1530 Words   |  7 Pagesinto Philip Zimbardo s Stanford Prison Experiment Zimbardo s prison experiment continues to receive a lot of critics from the manner in which it was carried out to the results that its portrayed. Some people believe that as a psychologist, Zimbardo should have done a better job in trying to show how good can turn into evil through the said experiment. 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According to Socrates the democratic man arose from the oligarchic father when he dared to place in the same rank the necessary and unnecessary desires enjoying them in moderation. In Book IX of the treatise of Plato s Republic, Socrates argues his disciple Adeimantus as the Democratic son of a man becomes a tyrant when he lets himself be dragged by evil companies that incite him to seek the pleasure of the forbidden at bestRead MoreApology, By Plato s Apology1298 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"I know, I do not know,† are the words that constitute Socrates’ philosophy that â€Å"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.† In â€Å"Apology,† written by Plato, this ethical belief makes a bold appearance demonstra ting that true ignorance only revolves around those who think that they know everything. In â€Å"Apology,† Socrates learns that the wisest men are those who do not think of themselves of wise, and rather make an approach of going beyond an authentic method of inquiry and helping othersRead MoreTry to Persuade Socrates Friends to Save Him Against His Will1191 Words   |  5 PagesTry to persuade the Socrates`s friends to save him, against his will. Socrates Is one of the most colorful figures of the ancient Greek world, who the strangeness of privacy life have always been of special philosophical and political science. He was convict to death because he does not believe in God and corrupted the youth people to do the same. In Plato`s dialogue Crito, Socrates spent his last time in the prison. Crito is coming to save Socrates and have plans how toRead MoreSocrates Vs. Plato s Lysis1244 Words   |  5 PagesPlato’s Lysis. In this philosophical dialogue, Socrates and his peers debate potential theories concerning the reasons why people become friends with one another. Several theories are developed, but throughout the dialogue Socrates counters his own arguments in order to achieve further understanding of his inquiry. As they deliberate the true nature of friendship, Plato’s writing parallels his teacher, Socrates’ style because it ends in perplexity. Plato’s own ideas intermingle with Socrates’ in thisRead MoreEssay on Plato on the Existence of Negative Forms4235 Words   |  17 PagesPlato on the Existence of Negative Forms The question of the origin and nature of evil in the world has preoccupied philosophers throughout history. The ancient philosopher Plato does not directly address this question in his writings, but it can be argued that the logic of his theory of forms demands the existence of forms that are negative in meaning, such as the evil and the bad. When discussing his theory of imitation, Plato alludes to the principle that whenever there are