Argument Quote by William L. Rowe
““1) There exist instances of intense suffering which an omnipotent, omniscient being could have prevented without thereby losing some greater good or permitting some evil equally bad or worse. 2) An omniscient, wholly good being would prevent the occurrence of any intense suffering it could, unless it could not do so without thereby losing some greater good or permitting some evil equally bad or worse. 3) (Therefore) There does not exist an omnipotent, omniscient, wholly good being.””
About This Quote
Source Philosophy: The Problem of Evil, William L. Rowe, 1979
The argument claims that if a being is all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfectly good, it would prevent all intense suffering unless doing so would sacrifice a greater good or allow an equally bad evil, which leads to a contradiction.
In simple terms: An all‑good, all‑powerful being cannot exist because suffering would remain.
Key Takeaway
Question the coherence of the traditional concept of God.
Themes
theology
philosophy
ethics
metaphysics
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
skeptical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Theological debate
- academic coursework
- personal belief reflection
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Omnipotence
omniscience
moral goodness
evil problem
logical inconsistency
Questions to Reflect On
- Does preventing all suffering always lead to a better world?
- Can a being be good without eliminating all evil?
A Different Perspective
The argument assumes that all suffering must be prevented, ignoring possible unknown purposes.
