Theodicy

Lore & Background

As defined by philosopher Alvin Plantinga, a theodicy is 'an answer to the question of why God permits evil'. The word derives from the Greek words Θεός (Theos, 'God') and δίκη (dikē, 'trial' or 'judgement'), literally meaning 'justifying God'. Philosopher Nick Trakakis proposes three additional requirements for a theodicy: common sense views of the world, widely-held historical and scientific opinion, and plausible moral principles.

Reader's Guide

Theodicy is distinct from a defense: a defense attempts to demonstrate that evil does not contradict God's existence without explaining why God permits evil, while a theodicy shows that it is reasonable to believe in God despite evil and offers a framework accounting for evil's existence. Theodicy is often based on prior natural theology and seeks to demonstrate that God's existence remains probable after the problem of evil is posed. The article notes that there are at least two concepts of evil—broad (including natural and moral evil) and narrow (morally despicable acts)—and that definitions of evil vary across traditions, including privation theories (Augustine, Aquinas), effect-based definitions (Marxism, Hinduism), and secular theories (Kant). Theodicy remains a central topic in philosophy of religion, with ongoing disputes about the nature of evil and the plausibility of divine justification.

Did You Know?

• Unlike a defense, a theodicy provides a framework in which God and evil's existence are considered plausible.
• Philosopher Nick Trakakis proposes three additional requirements for a theodicy: common sense views, historical and scientific opinion, and plausible moral principles.
• The word theodicy literally means 'justifying God', from Greek Theos ('God') and dikē ('trial' or 'judgement').