Causal Connections, Logical Connections, and Skeptical Theism: There Is No Logical Problem of Evil

Abstract

In this paper, I consider Sterba’s recent criticism of skeptical theism in context of his argument from evil. I show that Sterba’s criticism of skeptical theism shares an undesirable trait with all past criticisms of skeptical theism: it fails. This is largely due to his focus on causal connections and his neglect of logical connections. Because of this, his argument remains vulnerable to skeptical theism.

What Can God Do? What Should God Do?

“…Let me start with Hendricks's (2022) claim that Sterba's argument is ineffective against skeptical theism. Sterba discusses a case where some evil (a person being tortured) is the only way to avoid a worse evil (three people being tortured in the same way).…”