Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering
Eleonore Stump
OUP Oxford, Sep 23, 2010 - Religion - 688 pages
Wandering in Darkness
Narrative and the Problem of Suffering
Eleonore Stump
A highly original approach to the problem of evil
Draws together philosophical, religious, and scientific perspectives on the human condition
Offers a way to make sense of existence in a world of suffering
The magnum opus of a leading figure in the philosophy of religion
Demonstrates the continuing value of Aquinas's theodicy for philosophers and theologians today
Features illuminating exegeses of central biblical narratives
Only the most naïve or tendentious among us would deny the extent and intensity of suffering in the world. Can one hold, consistently with the common view of suffering in the world, that there is an omniscient, omnipotent, perfectly good God? This book argues that one can. Wandering in Darkness first presents the moral psychology and value theory within which one typical traditional theodicy, namely, that of Thomas Aquinas, is embedded. It explicates Aquinas's account of the good for human beings, including the nature of love and union among persons. Eleonore Stump also makes use of developments in neurobiology and developmental psychology to illuminate the nature of such union. Stump then turns to an examination of narratives. In a methodological section focused on epistemological issues, the book uses recent research involving autism spectrum disorder to argue that some philosophical problems are best considered in the context of narratives. Using the methodology argued for, the book gives detailed, innovative exegeses of the stories of Job, Samson, Abraham and Isaac, and Mary of Bethany. In the context of these stories and against the backdrop of Aquinas's other views, Stump presents Aquinas's own theodicy, and shows that Aquinas's theodicy gives a powerful explanation for God's allowing suffering. She concludes by arguing that this explanation constitutes a consistent and cogent defense for the problem of suffering.
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