Theodicy by Leibniz

[shadow_of_light]

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/17147/17147-h/17147-h.htm

 

Essais de Théodicée sur la bonté de Dieu, la liberté de l'homme et l'origine du mal (from French: Essays of Theodicy on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man and the Origin of Evil), more simply known as Théodicée [te.ɔ.di.se], is a book of philosophy by the German polymath Gottfried Leibniz. 

In this book, Leibniz adresses controversial subjects such as the problemof evil and divine justice. 

 

Leibniz distinguishes three forms of evil: moral, physical, and metaphysical. Moral evil is sin, physical evil is pain, and metaphysical evil is limitation. God permits moral and physical evil for the sake of greater goods, and metaphysical evil (i.e., limitation) is unavoidable since any created universe must necessarily fall short of God's absolute perfection.

Human free will is consistent with God's foreknowledge, because even though all events in the universe are foreseen and pre-determined, they are not necessitated (i.e., logically necessary), and only if human choices were necessitated would free will be an illusion.

* Leibniz (pronounced: laibneets) was a great genius whose IQ was estimated between 180 and 205!

[Hameedeh]

On 8/15/2023 at 8:00 AM, shadow_of_light said:

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/17147/17147-h/17147-h.htm

Théodicée is a book of philosophy by the German polymath Gottfried Leibniz

Thank you. 

[Abu Nur]

On 8/15/2023 at 4:00 PM, shadow_of_light said:

God permits moral and physical evil for the sake of greater goods, and metaphysical evil (i.e., limitation) is unavoidable since any created universe must necessarily fall short of God's absolute perfection.

God permits moral evil for a creature that have intellect and choice to choose between moral good and evil. As for those who choose moral goodness, God will reward them and give more and as for those who use moral evil, God will drag them to Guidance and response, even if it manifest in punishment:

Mischief has appeared in the land and the sea because of what the hands of men have wrought, that He may make them taste a part of what they have done, so that they may turn (away from evil) Qur'an  -- Surah Ar-Room – Verse 41

This is why in all situation you will find always God wanting the person to be guided in right path, but because of our free will we can shape ourselves to deny the guidance and help. The pain is also included in this category, because God allows the pain for us as a wake up call and turn to Him. This is why it is true that these evilness are allowed for sake of greater goodness and not because God love to see people suffer and misguided (Audhubillah).

[Abu Nur]

Why God allow children to suffer and die in young age? If we assume that God exist and at the same time He allows suffering and death to children, then we need to also accept God purpose of our creation and purpose of living in Earth for short time, and that every children who dies will enter everlasting paradise. We also need to accept that suffering and death are dislike for human beings (fitrah always seeks goodness and everlasting) but they are also a wake up calls for guidance and thankfulness, thus their purpose are for sake of greater goodness. 

But if we deny God, then life become cold and purposeless, and those children who suffer and dies, will gain nothing but earthly suffering. I believe majority of those parents who experience this (May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) protect us) will always think that their child are in better place. Just saying he/she does not anymore suffer will never be a satisfaction. This is because our fitrah is such that it always seeks everlasting life.

Edited August 16, 2023 by Abu Nur

[313_Waiter]

Is evil a shay or a La shay?

[Ashvazdanghe]

51 minutes ago, 313_Waiter said:

Is evil a shay or a La shay?

Salam he is a creature so he is  a Shay .

[kadhim]

On 8/15/2023 at 9:00 AM, shadow_of_light said:

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/17147/17147-h/17147-h.htm

 

Essais de Théodicée sur la bonté de Dieu, la liberté de l'homme et l'origine du mal (from French: Essays of Theodicy on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man and the Origin of Evil), more simply known as Théodicée [te.ɔ.di.se], is a book of philosophy by the German polymath Gottfried Leibniz. 

In this book, Leibniz adresses controversial subjects such as the problemof evil and divine justice. 

 

Leibniz distinguishes three forms of evil: moral, physical, and metaphysical. Moral evil is sin, physical evil is pain, and metaphysical evil is limitation. God permits moral and physical evil for the sake of greater goods, and metaphysical evil (i.e., limitation) is unavoidable since any created universe must necessarily fall short of God's absolute perfection.

Human free will is consistent with God's foreknowledge, because even though all events in the universe are foreseen and pre-determined, they are not necessitated (i.e., logically necessary), and only if human choices were necessitated would free will be an illusion.

* Leibniz (pronounced: laibneets) was a great genius whose IQ was estimated between 180 and 205!

That’s a great book. A product of its age, but nevertheless, a great book.