J. L. Mackie Quotes

• God is omnipotent; God is wholly good; and yet evil exists. There seems to be some contradiction between these three propositions, so that if any two of them were true the third would be false. But at the same time all three are essential parts of most theological positions: the theologian it seems, at once must adhere and cannot consistently adhere to all three.

  J. L. Mackie

  Two, Evil, Essentials

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• The balance of probabilities, therefore, comes out strongly against the existence of a god.

  J. L. Mackie

  Balance, Existence, Probability

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• ...it is absurd to try to confine our knowledge and belief to matters which are conclusively established by sound deductive arguments. The demand for certainty will inevitably be disappointed, leaving skepticism in command of almost every issue.

  J. L. Mackie

  Philosophical, Issues, Leaving

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• There are no objective values.

  J. L. Mackie

  Objectives, Values

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• I myself find it hard to accept the notion of self-creation from nothing, even given unrestricted chance.

  J. L. Mackie

  Self, Atheism, Chance

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• If we do take statements to be the primary bearers of truth, there seems to be a very simple answer to the question, what is it for them to be true: for a statement to be true is for things to be as they are stated to be.

  J. L. Mackie

  Truth, Simple, Answers

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