theodicy

theodicy
In metaphysics , representation of the world as God's creation offered a method of demonstrating that the world must have certain characteristics, often ones which contradicted commonsense experience. Thus, from God's goodness and omnipotence it could be deduced that the created world must itself be good, despite the appearance of evil and suffering. The philosophical optimism of Leibniz and his followers (‘all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds’) was ruthlessly satirized by Voltaire in Candide. The role of theodicies as reconciling, conservative ideologies has been noted by Max Weber among other sociologists of religion, but they may also have critical implications.

Dictionary of sociology. 2013.

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  • Theodicy — (IPAEng|θiːˈɒdɪsi) (adjectival form theodicean) is a specific branch of theology and philosophy that attempts to reconcile the existence of evil or suffering in the world with the belief in an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent God, i.e …   Wikipedia

  • Theodicy — • Term was introduced into philosophy by Leibniz Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Theodicy     Theodicy     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Theodicy — The*od i*cy, n. [NL. theodic[ae]a, fr. Gr. ? God + ? right, justice: cf. F. th[ e]odic[ e]e.] 1. A vindication of the justice of God in ordaining or permitting natural and moral evil. [1913 Webster] 2. That department of philosophy which treats… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • theodicy — 1799, from Fr. théodicée, title of a work by Leibniz, from Gk. theos god (see THEA (Cf. Thea)) + dike judgment, justice, usage, custom (cognate with L. dicere to show, tell; see DICTION (Cf. diction)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • theodicy — [thē äd′ə sē] n. pl. theodicies [Fr théodicée: coined by LEIBNIZ Baron Gottfried Wilhelm von (1710) < Gr theos, god + dikē, justice] the theological discipline that seeks to explain how the existence of evil in the world can be reconciled with …   English World dictionary

  • theodicy — theodicean, adj. /thee od euh see/, n., pl. theodicies. a vindication of the divine attributes, particularly holiness and justice, in establishing or allowing the existence of physical and moral evil. [1790 1800; THEO + Gk dík(e) justice + Y3,… …   Universalium

  • theodicy —    A theodicy is a defence of divine omnipotence and perfect goodness in the light of the problem of evil. In the words of Milton s famous preface to Paradise Lost, it is to justify the ways of God to men . According to Alvin Plantinga, theodicy… …   Christian Philosophy

  • theodicy —    This word (from the Greek theos, meaning God, and dikē, meaning justice ) refers to the study of evil and suffering in the world, which seems contrary to the existence of a presumably good God. In a more general sense, theodicy sometimes… …   Glossary of theological terms

  • theodicy — noun (plural cies) Etymology: modification of French théodicée, from théo the (from Latin theo ) + Greek dikē judgment, right more at diction Date: 1797 defense of God s goodness and omnipotence in view of the existence of evil …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • theodicy — noun /θiːˈɒd.ɪ.si/ A justification of a deity, or the attributes of a deity, especially in regard to the existence of evil and suffering in the world; a work or discourse justifying the ways of God …   Wiktionary

  • theodicy — The part of theology concerned with defending the goodness and omnipotence of God in the face of the suffering and evil of the world. See evil, problem of; free will defence …   Philosophy dictionary

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