GCSE Philosophy and Ethics Practice Exam

What are five features of natural evil?

1. Caused by human actions, result in moral lessons, can be controlled, lead to suffering, need punishment

2. Illnesses, earthquakes, unjust punishment, opportunity to do good, test of faith

3. Result of free will, encourage good actions, create moral choices, seen as a test, lead to faith

4. Test faith, encourage free will, moral lessons, create suffering, natural disasters

The correct answer is: Caused by human actions, result in moral lessons, can be controlled, lead to suffering, need punishment

The correct response highlights key characteristics that are traditionally associated with the concept of natural evil. Natural evil refers to suffering and harm in the world that arises from natural phenomena rather than human actions. The appropriate features include leading to suffering, as natural evils often result in pain and hardship; the notion of moral lessons, which suggests that these occurrences might offer valuable insights into the human condition; and the aspect of needing punishment, which implies that the response to these evils can involve a moral reckoning or assessment of human actions. In contrast, the other options include elements that do not fully align with the definition of natural evil. They may reference human actions or moral lessons that stem from consciously made decisions rather than the uncontrollable aspects of nature itself. By focusing on aspects such as free will, unjust punishment, or opportunities for good, those alternatives blend the ideas of moral evil with natural events rather than isolating the features specific to natural evil.