Uploaded June 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
There are many famous examples of unintelligent design in nature, but what about malevolent design? Some natural systems are aimed at producing suffering: they cause suffering by acting in accordance with their natural purpose, function, or design plan. Why would we infer a benevolent, omnipotent designer from malevolent design?
The fact that predation – a striking example of teleological evil – is a prominent feature of the biological order is very surprising on theism. Predation isn’t a feature of the biological order because animals are acting against their design plan – exactly the opposite. The fact that animals must savagely kill and devour each other in order to survive is strong evidence against the hypothesis that nature was designed, directly or indirectly, by an unsurpassably great being of perfect love and goodness.
The Problem of Teleological Evil – Felipe Leon exapologist.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-problem-of-teleological-evil.html
An Atheological Argument from Evil Natural Laws – Quentin Smith infidels.org/library/modern/quentin-smith-evil-laws
Justin Schieber of Real Atheology interviews Quentin Smith (2017) youtu.be/mvkghIrF7XY?t=385
The Best Argument Against God? Teleological Evil Explained - The Non-Alchemist youtube.com/watch?v=STFClYpV8NY
Transcript emersongreenblog.wordpress.com/2022/06/20/teleological-evil
/ Counter Apologetics /
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/ Timestamps /
00:00 The Argument from Teleological Evil
06:18 The Argument from Evil Natural Laws
09:23 Outro
There are many famous examples of unintelligent design in nature, but what about malevolent design? Some natural systems are aimed at producing suffering: they cause suffering by acting in accordance with their natural purpose, function, or design plan. Why would we infer a benevolent, omnipotent designer from malevolent design?
The fact that predation – a striking example of teleological evil – is a prominent feature of the biological order is very surprising on theism. Predation isn’t a feature of the biological order because animals are acting against their design plan – exactly the opposite. The fact that animals must savagely kill and devour each other in order to survive is strong evidence against the hypothesis that nature was designed, directly or indirectly, by an unsurpassably great being of perfect love and goodness.
The Problem of Teleological Evil – Felipe Leon exapologist.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-problem-of-teleological-evil.html
An Atheological Argument from Evil Natural Laws – Quentin Smith infidels.org/library/modern/quentin-smith-evil-laws
Justin Schieber of Real Atheology interviews Quentin Smith (2017) youtu.be/mvkghIrF7XY?t=385
The Best Argument Against God? Teleological Evil Explained - The Non-Alchemist youtube.com/watch?v=STFClYpV8NY
Transcript emersongreenblog.wordpress.com/2022/06/20/teleological-evil
/ Counter Apologetics /
Consider supporting at patreon.com/counter
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/counter-apologetics/id1273573417
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0xp05xgyg04BWh0U1tCZ0z
/ Walden Pod /
Consider supporting at patreon.com/waldenpod
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/walden-pod/id1474408172
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/5It3kjkrB9CTDen1Sx3aGl?si=fZ6MENZ4TdSLDPLAJ_6dAA&nd=1
/ Timestamps /
00:00 The Argument from Teleological Evil
06:18 The Argument from Evil Natural Laws
09:23 Outro
