The Nature and Limits of Theodicy

International Workshop: The Nature and Limits of Theodicy

University of Navarra, Pamplona

December 13-14th, 2019

Can we understand the reasons why an all good and all powerful God permits the existence of horrendous evils in the world? If so, what is the nature and limits of that understanding? Is philosophy an adequate tool to find an ultimate meaning to suffering and pain? What is the real difference between a ‘theodicy’ and ‘defence’ as strategies against atheistic arguments from evil? Can every theodicy be mirrored by a corresponding anti-theodicy that puts in question the goodness of God? This workshops aims to tackle these and other related questions, exploring the significance, the scope, and the prospects of success of theodicy as an intellectual enterprise.

Confirmed speakers:

-       Paul Rateau (University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne)

-       Lloyd Strickland (Manchester Metropolitan University)

-       Georg Gasser (University of Innsbruck)

-       Agustín Echavarría (University of Navarra)

Call for papers:

We invite researchers working on the topic of the workshop and interested in giving a talk to submit an abstract of approximately 1000 words to Agustín Echavarría (aechavarria@unav.es). There are 2 presentation slots available (45 min. presentation + 20 min. response + 25 Q&A). Applicants whose papers are not accepted may be asked to give a response to a speaker’s paper.

Deadline: August 15, 2019.

Notification of acceptance: September 1, 2019.

Full Drafts: November 1, 2019.

We expect to be able to cover accommodation expenses for the speakers whose papers are accepted. 

The workshop is organized by the Research Group on Philosophical Theology (University of Navarra) and funded by the research project “The Problem of Evil: From Leibniz to Analytic Philosophy of Religion” (FFI2017-84559-P) of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.