Plato's Theodicy

The Forgotten Fount

Viktor Ilievski (Autor)

Buch | Hardcover

224 Seiten

2023
Brill (Verlag)
978-90-04-67929-0 (ISBN)

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Plato’s Theodicy argues successfully that the earliest major contribution to the attempt to justify the ways of an omnibenevolent deity against the ubiquity of evil is made in Plato’s dialogues. It is the first published book-length treatment of this subject.

Ever since antiquity, the presence of evil has been considered incompatible with the existence of God. This apparent contradiction gave rise to the argument from evil, which turned into a formidable weapon against theism. Faced with this challenge, theists of all creeds have been proposing theodicies, or justifications of God’s ways.

This monograph is the first book-length treatment of the subject from a Platonic perspective. Its essential message is that Plato devised a noteworthy and influential theodicy comprised of several theodicean strategies, some of which remain relevant even today. Hence, Plato’s pioneering contribution to the field of theodicy deserves the attention of both philosophers and theologians.

Viktor Ilievski, Ph.D. (Central European University), is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Ancient Philosophy. He has been affiliated with the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the University of Bucharest. He publishes mostly in Platonic metaphysics, cosmology and theology, as well as on the problems of evil.

Acknowledgements

List of Abbreviations

Introduction

1 The Problem of Evil and Theodicy in Republic 379b–c

1.1 Traditional Religion’s First Profanation: Gods as Causes of Both Good and Evil

1.2 Plato’s Objections to Homer and Hesiod

1.3 Some Principles of Plato’s Theology

1.4 The Problem of Evil in Republic II

1.5 Does Plato Really Propose a Theodicy in Republic II?

1.6 Closing Remarks

2 Theodicy in Republic X: the Myth of Er

2.1 The Myth of Er: an Overview

2.2 The ??t?a ???µ????? ?e?? ??a?t??? Dictum

2.3 The Theodicean Significance of the Lottery Episode in the Myth of Er

2.4 ??t?a ???µ????: the Problem of Free Agency and Individual Moral Accountability

2.4.1 A Platonic Account of Freedom and Responsibility

2.4.2 The Challenge of Determinism

2.4.3 Infinite Regress of Accountability?

2.4.4 Further Objections Addressed

2.5 Closing Remarks

3 Theodicy in the Theaetetus?

3.1 Setting the Scene: the Theaetetus Digression

3.2 The Problem of Evil in the Theaetetus

3.2.1 The Status of t? ??a??? at 176a6

3.2.2 The Status of ?pe?a?t??? at 176a6

3.2.3 The Status of t? ?a?? and Their Relation to the ?pe?a?t???

3.2.4 The Status of ?????? at 176a6 and Its Relation to the ?pe?a?t???

3.2.5 ? ???t? f?s?? and the Evils

3.2.6 Further Reflections on ??????

3.3 Theodicy in the Theaetetus

3.3.1 Socrates and His God

3.3.2 Plato and the Soul-Making Theodicy

3.4 Closing Remarks

4 Theodicy in the Timaeus

4.1 Traditional Religion’s Second Profanation: Divine Envy

4.2 Plato’s Answer to the Second Profanation

4.2.1 The Concept of f????? in Plato’s Theology

4.2.2 Divine Goodness and the ‘Why a World at All?’ Question

4.3 Theodicy in the Timaeus

4.3.1 The Principle of Plenitude

4.3.2 The Solution from Personal Responsibility

4.3.3 A Factor Beyond God’s Control: Timaean Necessity

4.4 Personal Responsibility Abandoned?

4.5 Closing Remarks

5 Theodicy in Laws X

5.1 The Natural Theology of the Laws

5.2 Plato and the Aesthetic Theme

5.3 Inescapability of Divine Justice and Personal Responsibility

5.4 Closing Remarks

Conclusion

References

Index

Erscheinungsdatum	31.10.2023
Reihe/Serie	Brill's Plato Studies Series ; 15
Verlagsort	Leiden
Sprache	englisch
Maße	155 x 235 mm
Gewicht	501 g
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Philosophie Altertum / Antike
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie
ISBN-10	90-04-67929-4 / 9004679294
ISBN-13	978-90-04-67929-0 / 9789004679290
Zustand	Neuware