View source for Directory:Maratreanism/Cosmodicy

'''Cosmodicy''' is the problem for atheists of justifying the fundamental goodness of the universe in the face of evil. It is closely connected with [[theodicy]], which attempts to do this given the existence of God; yet, while many atheists think that by getting rid of God they have got rid of the problem of evil, cosmodicy demonstrates that the problem still exists, it has only assumed a different form. As one author has said "atheists are not supposed to have such thoughts"; and yet they do.<ref>[http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2011/08/15/110815crat_atlarge_wood#ixzz1Ut5ikoYb James Wood, "Secularism and its discontents: Is That All There Is?", ''The New Yorker'', August 15, 2011]</ref>

A number of theologians have grappled with the relationship between cosmodicy and theodicy. Johannes van der Ven argues that the choice between theodicy and cosmodicy is a false dilemma.<ref>see van der Ven, J.A. “Theodicy or cosmodicy: a false dilemma?”, ''Journal of Empirical Theology'', Volume 2, Number 1, 1989 , pp. 5-27(23); see also Johannes A. van der Ven, ''God reinvented?: a theological search in texts and tables'', Empirical studies in theology, Vol. 1, Leiden [u.a.] Brill 1998, p. 205</ref>. Philip E. Devenish proposes "a nuanced view in which theodicy and cosmodicy are rendered complementary, rather than alternative concepts"<ref>Devenish, Philip E. “Theodicy and Cosmodicy: The Contribution of Neoclassical Theism”, Journal of Empirical Theology 4 (1992): 5-23</ref>.

Cosmodicy is a major theme in the philosophy of [[Friedrich Nietzsche]]<ref>[http://www.ul.ie/~philos/vol10/Logos.html Mark Balto, “Logos As Will And Cosmodicy”], ''Minerva - An Internet Journal of Philosophy'' Vol. 10 2006</ref>.

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[[Category:Philosophy]][[Category:Theology]]