Irenaean Theodicy Flashcards
Theme 3C
What is Irenaeus’ theodicy in terms of the soul?
It is a soul making theodicy based on free will
What is the contents of his theodicy?
He admitted that God is partially responsible for evil because he created an imperfect world with a telos of perfection
He wanted to make humans flawless and genuine human perfection cannot be ready made, but had to be via free choice
Because he gave us free will, it gave us the ability to disobey and therefore we needed it because we are not perfect.
God cannot compromise freedom by reducing evil
His view is more optimistic.
Who developed Irenaeus’ theodicy?
John Hick
What did he say regarding this theodicy?
He said that natural and moral evil was essential and that there was an epistemic distance between us and God.
What is the central features of God’s creation?
He deliberately made us imperfect and unfinished with the potential to achieve perfection and therefore if we achieved that we would be in the likeness of God
God is therefore responsible but he has good reason because he needed humans to develop because if we had no free will the choices would be determined robotically.
Evil is unpleasant but essential to lead to moral perfection.
