Plantinga on the Problem of Evil

Abstract

No-one has contributed more than Alvin Plantinga to the development of an analytical tradition in the philosophy of religion, and his studies of the problem of evil are among his most important contributions to the field. I believe that he has presented an adequate solution to at least one major form of die problem. And at a foundational level he has done a lot to clarify what one might be demanding or attempting in a “solution” to the problem, and to show that theists need not accept certain burdens of proof — although I think theists have reason to attempt a more extensive response to the problem of evil than Plantinga seems to see a use for. This is indeed my principal disagreement with him on this subject, as will appear in section III, below.