Discussion:
One of the most vexing problems in philosophy and religion is the question of why a loving and all-powerful God would allow evil to exist. The school of thought devoted to addressing this problem is known as Theodicy, a term coined by the German philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716). As we will see, Leibniz defended the idea that God could be both all-powerful and all-loving. In contrast, the French poet and novelist François-Marie Arouet (1694-1778), who wrote under the pen name Voltaire, believed that Leibniz's belief in a benevolent God was absurd. Voltaire's pessimistic outlook on God was influenced by the suffering he witnessed during a devastating earthquake that struck Lisbon, Portugal in 1755.
Review the articles:
1. "How to Understand Syllogisms."
2. "Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz: The Existence of God."
3. Gottfried W. Leibnitz, "Selections from The Theodicy."
4. "1755: Earthquake Takes Heavy Toll on Lisbon."
5. Voltaire, "Poem on the Lisbon Disaster."
Answer the following questions in one page:
1. How does Leibniz defend God's goodness in light of the suffering in the world?
2. How does Voltaire's view of human suffering differ from Leibniz's?
3. Do you agree with Leibniz or Voltaire? Why?