Theodicy as God's portraiture

Abstract

. The aim of this paper is to examine one of the best known and most frequently disapproved philosophical ideas: namely, theodicy. Some classical arguments formulated by Plotinus, Augustine, and Leibniz are examined. Then, Kant’s harsh critique of theodicy is introduced. The main aim of our suggested reinterpretation of the classical debate is to employ a new definition of evil formulated by Richard Kearney. Having considered evil as ‘something that must be actively contested ’, the theodicean reasoning should be reimagined. The paper will advance from the rational vindication of God’s goodness and justice to the portraiture of God’s active contestation of evil. The metaphysical thought of Plotinus, Augustine and Leibniz is to be redirected from its past orientation towards a fu ture disposition. The Kantian idea of an authentic theodicy based on the Book of Job will also be introduced. This will allows us to steer firmly between the Scylla of a metaphysical overlooking of individual suffering and the Charybdis of disregarding God when facing evil.