Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of SufferingOnly 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. |
Contents
Love and Loneliness | 83 |
Suffering in Particular | 175 |
What We Care about in a Defense | 369 |
Desinit | 482 |
Notes | 483 |
637 | |
653 | |
Other editions - View all
Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering Eleonore Stump No preview available - 2010 |
Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering Eleonore Stump No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
Abraham accept action allowing answer Aquinas Aquinas’s attention attitude become begin believe beloved benefit biblical bring Chapter child claim clear closeness comes condition connection consequence consider course death defense discussion divine effect episode evil example experience explain fact faith feel final flourishing Franciscan give given God’s Gospel Hagar hand heart heart’s desire human human person important integration internal interpretation Isaac Ishmael issue Jerome Jesus Job’s John kind knowledge Lazarus least lives Martha Mary matter means mind moral mother narrative nature object pain particular Paula person philosophical position possible present Press problem promise question reason regards relations relationship requires response Samson Satan says second-person seems sense shame shared someone sort story suffering suppose theodicy things thought true trust understand union University wants