A Study of Nick Trakakis's Approach to Anti-Theodicy in Comparison with Meta-Theodicy and Critique of Theodicy

Document Type : Original Research

Author
Seyed Mahdi Sajadi
Ph.D. Graduate in Theoretical Foundations of Islam, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran
10.30497/prr.2022.242619.1748
Abstract
The problem of evil and theodicy are acknowledged as inherent parts of the philosophy of religion. But on the other hand, some are seeking a way to put an end to this issue. Nick Trakakis is one of them, who by passing over meta theodicy and critique of theodicy, finally sees the solution in “anti-Theodicy”. Relying on the objective and practical reality of evil, in addition to the moral, methodological, and metaphysical flaws of the current theodicies, he has revised the image of personal God. According to anti-theodicy, theodicies are based on a personal God, and this is an obstacle to the compromise between the existence of evil and God's benevolence. Nevertheless, anti-theodicy has faced criticism in terms of fundamentals, methodology, and the purpose. In this research, first, the difference between anti-theodicy, meta-theodicy, and critique of theodicy is discussed and then the definition and explanation of anti-theodicy from Trakakis's perspective are explicated. In the end, some of the most important objections to this theory are proposed: taking a monopolistic attitude toward the moral basis, having cognitive weakness in common attributes, being prejudiced in dealing with the problem, ignoring the main problem, not proposing an alternative explanation of evil, and returning to the logical problem of evil.
Keywords
The Problem of Evil
Anti-Theodicy
Nick Trakakis
Meta-Theodicy
Critique of Theodicy  
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Philosophy of Religion Research
Volume 20, Issue 2 - Serial Number 40
September 2022
Pages 177-198