Zosima's Theodicy The Problem of Evil in The Brothers Karamazov

Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Langston, Douglas

Keywords

Dostoyevsky, Fyodor, Evil, Philosophy

Area of Concentration

Philosophy

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the philosophical and theological history of the problem of evil in order to better judge what constitutes an adequate theodicy, and then to apply that judgement to the theodicy proposed by Fyodor Dostoevsky in his novel, The Brothers Karamazov. The approaches to the problem of evil that are examined in detail include J. L. Mackie's essay, 'Evil and Omnipotence;' Nelson Pike's essay, 'Hume on Evil;' Terence Penelhum's essay, 'Divine Goodness and the Problem of Evil;' and two essays by Marilyn McCord Adams called 'Redemptive Suffering: A Christian Solution to the Problem of Evil' and 'Horrendous Evils and the Goodness of God.' Parts of The Brothers Karamazov are also examined in detail, particularly Books V, VI, VII, and XI. I conclude that the theodicy offered in The Brothers Karamazov is an adequate one, according to the standards that Marilyn Adams puts forth in her writing on the problem of evil.

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