On Wednesday 17th November, philosopher and author Dr Stephen Law visited College to lead a conference for Sixth Form philosophy students and Academic Scholars. It was an invaluable experience which challenged us to evaluate not only arguments for the existence of God but also the normative ethical theory of utilitarianism.
Dr Law began by outlining ‘the rock of atheism’ – the problem of evil. The question is as follows: ‘If an all-loving, knowing, and powerful God exists, then how could He allow evil?’ After taking us through some arguments we commonly use to defend God’s existence, known as ‘theodicies’, he daringly stated that with this same reasoning we could justify the existence of an ‘evil God’. He left us with the question of: ‘If we somehow deem an evil God to be wholly irrational, then what makes us have trust in the existence of a good God?’ Following this, Dr Law led a talk on utilitarianism. Utilitarianism at its core says that what is good is what maximises happiness.
We were encouraged to compare the variations of the ethical theory presented by philosophers Bentham and Mill to decide whether we thought the ethic was successful overall. Between the talks, the SFC2 (Year 13) RS/Philosophy academic representatives chaired mixed discussion groups, allowing students to develop and share thoughts with their peers. Throughout the morning we were given the opportunity to engage with Dr Law directly, asking him questions, presenting our ideas, or even challenging his claims.
Although complex notions were raised, Law provided an inclusive environment for us to explore these themes comfortably. I know that I can speak on behalf of the students involved to say that this was an insightful experience which will push us all to think critically about ideas presented to us.
Mariam, SFC2 (Year 13)
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