Uploaded byJohn Lynch
02 The Problem of Death
The document discusses the problem of reconciling the existence of an all-powerful, loving God with the existence of evil in the world. It then provides a brief history of ideas related to geology and evolutionary thought from the 16th to 19th centuries. Key figures mentioned include Steno, Hutton, Lyell, and Darwin. Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection provided a mechanism by which biological diversity could arise without the need for a designer, potentially resolving the problem of evil.
More Related Content
Similar to 02 The Problem of Death
02 The Problem of Death
- 1. The Problem of Death
- 2. The Problem ofEvil If God is perfectly loving (omnibenevolent), He must wish to abolish evil If He is all powerful (omnipotent), He must be able to abolish evil But evil exists Therefore, an all powerful, loving God does not exist
- 3.
- 4. Conrad Gesner 1565
- 8.
- 9. Nils Stensen (“Steno”) Preliminary discourse to a dissertation on a solid body naturally contained within a solid (1669) Superimposition: Layers of rock are arranged in a time sequence, with the oldest on the bottom and the youngest on the top, unless later processes disturb this arrangement. Original Horizontality: most sediments, when originally formed, were laid down horizontally. Original Lateral Continuity: the sediment will not only be deposited in a flat layer, it will be a layer that extends for a considerable distance in all directions. In other words, the layer is laterally continuous.
- 14. James Usher Annals of the Old Covenant from the First Origin of the World (1650) Creation of the world on the evening preceding Sunday, 23rd October 4004 BCE 6,000 year old versus 4,550,000,000 year old
- 15.
- 17. William Whiston 1698
- 18.
- 20. Abraham Gottlob Werner Neptunism Aqueous origin of rocks Diluvialism Recent global flood Theologically acceptable
- 21.
- 22.
- 23. Hutton’s Unconformity Red Sandstone Grey Shale
- 24. Hutton’s Section Igneous Sedimentary
- 25. Theory of theEarth Theory of the Earth, or an Investigation of the Laws Observable in the Composition, Dissolution and Restoration of Land upon the Globe. (1785 / 88 / 95) The Earth had a long history and that this history could be interpreted in terms of processes currently observed. “The result, therefore, of this physical inquiry is, that we find no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end.”
- 32.
- 33. 'Duria Antiquior -a more ancient Dorsetshire' by Henry Thomas de la Beche, 1830
- 36. Kirkdale Cave 1821
- 39. William Buckland 1784 - 1856 Reliquiae Diluvianae, 1823 Geology was not inherently irreligious and confirmed the occurrence of a global flood. Miraculous forces were not required - natural law was applied
- 42. "Notice on theMegalosaurus or Great Fossil Lizard of Stonesfield." (1824)
- 43. "Notice on theMegalosaurus or Great Fossil Lizard of Stonesfield." (1824)
- 44. Gideon & MaryMantell
- 49.
- 50.
- 51.
- 52.
- 53.
- 61. Charles Lyell 1797 - 1875 Principles of Geology (1830-33) Elements of Geology (1838) Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man (1863)
- 62. “An attempt toexplain the former changes of the Earth's surface by reference to causes now in operation”
- 65. Normative Rules Basic laws of nature have not changed over time No causes other than those we can see operating now can be employed in explanations (actualism) The intensity of these causes does not change over time (uniformitarianism)
- 73. Diversity could beexplained using a natural mechanism which was also sufficient to explain good (and bad) design. Thus, design was apparent and did not imply a designer. Death and extinction are part of the natural process and “evil” is a meaningless concept when considering the natural world.
Editor's Notes
- #2 Why did forms apparently die-out? Tied with problem of evil?\n
- #3 \n
- #4 \n
- #5 \n
- #6 fossil - anything dug up\n
- #7 \n
- #8 Resemblance to teeth - 1667 Nils Stensen (Steno) - were teeth\n
- #9 40 foot long shark\n
- #10 two years later ... On fossils\n
- #11 \n
- #12 Note that this gives *relative* age – not actual – that would come later. No assumption of age. \n\n
- #13 Note that this gives *relative* age – not actual – that would come later. No assumption of age. \n\n
- #14 \n
- #15 \n
- #16 \n
- #17 Under the influence of Principia – succeeded Newton as Lucasian prof – also an Arian – expelled in 1710 - Naturalistic - Deistic \n\n
- #18 \n
- #19 By 1830’s map of Europe\n
- #20 \n
- #21 Member of Scottish Enlightenment – friend of Hume and Adam Smith. \nHutton’s PLUTONISM vs NEPTUNISM\n\n
- #22 \n
- #23 Jedburgh 1787 / Siccar Point (1788) Greywacke: 425 myo deep sea deposit (VERTICAL)\nSandstone: 345 myo flooded coastal plain (HORIZONTAL) /\n
- #24 Evidence of volcanic rock penetrating through sedimentary as it was being laid down ~350myo\n
- #25 natural processes - land rising from sea\n
- #26 Megatherium - South America - 1790’s\n
- #27 Monsters of the Deep\n
- #28 Monsters of the Deep\n
- #29 Monsters of the Deep\n
- #30 Monsters of the Deep\n
- #31 Coast of Dorset / collectors / impoverished -> lead to charity printing\n\n
- #32 \n
- #33 1831 Scene from the Jura’s. 1836 Dinotherii\n
- #34 1821 - Kirkdale Cave, Yorkshire\n
- #35 \n
- #36 Later shifted to the idea of a local flood.\n
- #37 Buckland in Oxford - Hyenas - bat urine\n
- #38 Drawing by local amateur naturalist, Mary Morland, who would become Mrs Buck. \n
- #39 Obgyn - 1822 -\n
- #40 quarry in Sussex - some megalsaur - “The Country of the Iguanodon” John Martin (1838)\n
- #41 quarry in Sussex - some megalsaur - “The Country of the Iguanodon” John Martin (1838)\n
- #42 quarry in Sussex - some megalsaur - “The Country of the Iguanodon” John Martin (1838)\n
- #43 Coins dinosaur / ig as mammal-like lumbering / great exhibition 1851\n
- #44 Coins dinosaur / ig as mammal-like lumbering / great exhibition 1851\n
- #45 Coins dinosaur / ig as mammal-like lumbering / great exhibition 1851\n
- #46 Coins dinosaur / ig as mammal-like lumbering / great exhibition 1851\n
- #47 M against O that Ig was as we see it today. M carriage accident in 1841, died of opium overdose in 1852. O had spine collected for the Hunterian. Destroyed in 1969. \n\n\n
- #48 Mastodon / Giant Irish / Coprolites\n
- #49 Mastodon / Giant Irish / Coprolites\n
- #50 Comparative method\n
- #51 Buckland compared with modern reptiles\n
- #52 \n
- #53 \n
- #54 \n
- #55 “The Present is Key to the Past”\n
- #56 1830 reaction to Lyell - De La Beche - lack of progress, cyclical nature, \n
- #57 \n
- #58 \n
- #59 \n
- #60 \n
- #61 \n