The problem of evil, as laid out by the philosopher Epicurus, is as follows: 1) It is claimed that God is all-knowing, all-powerful and all-benevolent. 2) Such a God would not allow evil to exist. 3) However, evil exists in the world. 4) If God does not realize that evil exists in the world, he cannot be all-knowing. 5) If he knows that evil exists but cannot remove it, he is not all-powerful. 6) If he knows that evil exists, and could remove it, but chooses not to, he cannot be all-good. 7) Therefore, an all-knowing, all-powerful and all-benevolent God does not exist.
