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Stump's theodicy of redemptive suffering and Molinism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 1999

KENNETH J. PERSZYK
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand, NZ 30882

Abstract

Eleonore Stump develops and defends a theodicy of redemptive suffering. In particular, God's permission of suffering (at least some classes, if not instances, of serious undeserved, involuntary suffering due to natural or free causes) is justified just in case it benefits those who suffer, it is the best possible means in the circumstances for their benefit, and God knows this is the case. The main aim of this paper is to show that for Stump's theodicy to have a good chance of working, it is reasonable to think that it requires the Molinist claim that God has middle knowledge.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press

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