Theodicy: Reconciling God's Nature with the Existence of Evil - Prof. Michael J. Seidler, Study notes of Introduction to Philosophy

Download Theodicy: Reconciling God's Nature with the Existence of Evil - Prof. Michael J. Seidler and more Study notes Introduction to Philosophy in PDF only on Docsity! Defense of God  Reconcile God’s Nature as a perfect being with the existence of evil.  Theodicists  justify God’s behavior  Theo= God  Dice = Justice Kinds of Evil: 1. Metaphysical Evil = Imperfection 2. Physical Evil = Suffering 3. Moral Evil = sin, immorality, evil Theodicy Arguments: 1. Big Plan – Eventual Resolution Compensation a. Components aren’t always good b. Everything is contributing to “good” though c. Idea of heaven 2. Punishment – a. People suffer because they sin b. Maybe you aren’t the sinner, but you are being punished for your ancestor’s actions c. “Original Sin” of Adam/Eve 1. Why am I being punished for Adam’s Actions? ii. Represents that deep routed evil within man 1. What about Children? 3. Character Building – a. Makes a person stronger and more morally developed 1. Suffering doesn’t always build character 2. Starving Children?? 4. Contrast – a. Deals with knowledge & desire b. Must have both in the world i. Without evil, we would not know good ii. Without evil, we would not do good c. Why does the difference have to be so vast? 5. The Forces of Evil – a. Who created the Devil? b. Who’s really in charge? c. God stands by, while his creation tortures us? 6. Test – a. Evil is not wanton, purpose to challenge us to succeed. b. Most people Fail these tests i. How can something created with flaws be expected to pass such a test? ii. People are sometimes born into bad situations and aren’t properly prepared for the tests. iii. Bottom line… Not Fair 7. Limits of Human Knowledge – a. Appeals only to fideisms b. Shrugs of the challenge