Augistinian theodicy

Question 1

Art Analogy

Answer 1

Augustine uses the art analogy to explain that when evil is viewed close up it can seem all encompassing but when we take a God’s eye view we can see the evil is necessary to allow the appreciation of the good rather like someone viewing an art work up close only focussing on the shadow (evil) and then stepping back can see the contrast been light and dark is what makes the picture beautiful.

Question 2

The fall and hierarchy of beings

Answer 2

The world was created perfect and without evil by God. However Adam and Eve at from the tree of knowledge of good and evil which led to the fall or original sin.
After this point the hierarchy of beings had been disrupted with God, angels, humans, animals and plants. Each plant and creature down the hierarchy possesses good to a less degree.

Question 3

Privitation of good

Answer 3

Evil is the absence of goodness.Since evil is not a thing in itself, but a lack of good, God cannot be responsible for creating it.Adam and Eve tried to climb the hierarchy with a misuse of free will which resluted in corruption.

Question 4

Seminally present

Answer 4

We are all descendants of Adam therefore his sin has been passed down to all humanity and is seminally present.

Question 5

Friedrich Schleiermacher criticism

Answer 5

Argued that is is illogical for a perfect creation to go wrong. If creation has a scope to go wrong it is not perfect e.g. angels, humans

Question 6

Concept of hell

Answer 6

Augustines argues hell is just punishment for humans and so was created by God. If God created hell Gor anticipated his creations would go wrong and accepted it making God not omnibenevolent

Question 7

Challenge from science

Answer 7

Augustines theodicy is in conflict with the theory of evolution. Augustine suggests that the world was created perfect and as a result of man degenerated. The theory of evolution claims the world is constantly developing.
Also Augustine says humans were created from the loins of Adam. Science proves that we evolved from different ancestors. Therefore evil cannot be passed down(seminally present).

Question 8

Strengths

Answer 8

Consistent with God or classical theism (omnis)
God is not responsible, we were given free will
Salvation is available through accepting Jesus

Question 9

J.L. Mackies criticism of art analogy

Answer 9

You only need a miniscule amount of evil to understand good by contrast. Why then would an omnibenevolent God create so much evil