theodicy
theodicy
UK[θiˈɒdɪsi]US[θiˈɑːdɪsi]
n
the part of theology concerned with defending the goodness and omnipotence of god in the face of the existence of evil and suffering in the world.
Morpheme Breakdown
theo
dicy
theo
god
dicy
justice
Etymology
the term 'theodicy' is a modern philosophical compound, coined in 1710 by the german philosopher gottfried wilhelm leibniz from the greek elements 'theos' (god) and 'dikē' (justice). it literally translates to 'the justice of god'. the concept, however, addresses an ancient theological dilemma: how to reconcile the existence of evil with the belief in a perfectly good and all-powerful deity. leibniz's construction formalized this enduring question into a single term, framing the defense of divine justice as a systematic philosophical and theological endeavor.
Analysis
Structure: theo (god) + dicy (justice)
theo- from greek 'theos', meaning 'god, deity'. -dicy from greek 'dikē', meaning 'justice, judgment, order'.
Examples
leibniz's philosophical work, "essais de théodicée," is a classic attempt to construct a rational theodicy.
many theologians have grappled with the problem of theodicy in the aftermath of natural disasters.
her thesis explored modern literary approaches to theodicy in 20th-century fiction.