The Sceptical Response to the Existential Problem of Systemic Suffering

IF 0.3 0 RELIGION Open Theology Pub Date : 2021-01-01 DOI:10.1515/opth-2020-0151

Francis Jonbäck

引用次数: 1

Abstract

Abstract Recently, Yujin Nagasawa has argued that “systemic suffering” – suffering inherent in the evolutionary process – poses a problem for existentially optimistic theists and atheists who think that the world is overall good and therefore are happy and thankful to be alive in it. In short, he shows that it is difficult to consistently believe that the world is overall good when also recognising the existence of systemic suffering. In this article, I evaluate a sceptical response to the problem. The idea behind the response is a sort of scepticism according to which we do not know whether our knowledge about the realm of values is representative. I argue that the response fails, but that theism in conjunction with such scepticism succeeds. Atheism in conjunction with such scepticism, on the other hand, does not. I also argue that atheists can at least consistently hope that the world is overall good, despite systemic suffering. Finally, I answer objections and conclude.

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对系统性痛苦存在问题的怀疑回应

摘要最近，长泽裕津认为“系统性痛苦” – 进化过程中固有的痛苦 – 这给存在主义乐观的有神论者和无神论者带来了一个问题，他们认为世界总体上是好的，因此对生活在其中感到高兴和感激。简言之，他表明，在承认系统性痛苦的存在的同时，很难始终如一地相信世界是总体上好的。在这篇文章中，我评估了对这个问题的怀疑态度。这种回应背后的想法是一种怀疑，根据这种怀疑，我们不知道我们对价值观领域的了解是否具有代表性。我认为这种回应是失败的，但有神论与这种怀疑论相结合是成功的。另一方面，无神论与这种怀疑论相结合，则不然。我还认为，无神论者至少可以始终如一地希望世界总体上是好的，尽管有系统性的痛苦。最后，我回答反对意见并结束发言。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Open Theology RELIGION-

CiteScore

1.00

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

15 weeks

期刊介绍： Open Theology is an international Open Access, peer-reviewed academic journal that welcomes contributions written in English addressing religion in its various forms and aspects: historical, theological, sociological, psychological, and other. The journal encompasses all major disciplines of Theology and Religious Studies, presenting doctrine, history, organization and everyday life of various types of religious groups and the relations between them. We publish articles from the field of Theology as well as Philosophy, Sociology and Psychology of Religion and also dialogue between Religion and Science. The Open Theology does not present views of any particular theological school nor of a particular religious organization. The contributions are written by researchers who represent different religious views. The authors present their research concerning the old religious traditions as well as new religious movements. The aim of the journal is to promote an international and interdisciplinary dialogue in the field of Theology and Religious Studies. The journal seeks also to provide researchers, pastors and other interested persons with the fruits of academic studies.