Abstract
In the previous chapter I showed the failure of traditional themes of theodicy to resolve, in themselves, the problem of evil. In theodical dialogue the themes of aesthetics, retribution and free-will beg for teleological support; traditional theodicy always moves to teleology. But in so doing I did not illustrate the problems that arise in this natural teleological movement. The purpose of this chapter is to examine in a practical and relevant manner the issues connected with these traditional themes, before turning to the more abstract developments that we find in systematic teleological theodicies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
See Zenkovsky, ‘Dostoevsky’s Religious and Philosophical Views’, in Rene Wellek (ed.), Dostoevsky (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1962) p. 131.
Berdyaev, Dostoievsky, Donald Attwater (tr.) (London: Sheed & Ward, 1934) p. 107.
Robert Belknap provides a good survey of this issue in The Structure of the Brothers Karamazov (Paris: Mouton, The Hague, 1967) pp. 9–16
Robert V. Wharton, ‘Evil in an Earthly Paradise: Dostoevsky’s Theodicy’, The Thomist, vol. XXXXI (1977) pp. 567–84
See Victor Terras, A Karamazov Companion (Madison, Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1981) pp. 47–59
Henry Troyat, Firebrand, Norbert Guterman (tr.) (New York: Roy, 1946) p. 398.
Richard Peace, Dostoyevsky (Cambridge University Press, 1971) p. 226.
Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov: The Constance Garnett Translation revised by Ralph E. Matlaw — backgrounds and sources, essays in criticism, Ralph E. Matlaw (ed.) (New York: Norton, 1976).
Copyright information
© 1992 Michael Stoeber
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Stoeber, M. (1992). Dostoevsky’s Critique of Theodicy. In: Evil and the Mystics’ God. Library of Philosophy and Religion. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-12653-8_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-12653-8_3
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-12655-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-12653-8
eBook Packages: Palgrave Religion & Philosophy CollectionPhilosophy and Religion (R0)