JOURNAL ARTICLE

SCRUTINIZING GOD'S INSCRUTABLE WAYS: THE CHALLENGES OF PLUTARCH'S THEODICY IN DE SERA NUMINIS VINDICTA.

  • Published In: Eirene, 2024, v. 60. P. 55 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: ROSKAM, GEERT 3 of 3

Abstract

In his dialogue De sera numinis vindicta, Plutarch raises the thorny question of theodicy: if the world is ruled by divine providence, how can we explain the delay of divine punishment and the seeming happiness of criminals? This article focuses on three neglected key questions regarding this work. (1) It first discusses the many meta-reflective comments that occur in the dialogue. Plutarch underlines the importance of a well-ordered discussion and recommends an attitude of "zetetic" "caution towards the divine". (2) Next, it deals with Plutarch's conception of God as it appears in the work and examines the relation between God, the divinity and the gods of the ancestral polytheistic tradition. (3) Finally, Plutarch's view and use of history in De sera is analysed against the background of his general (historical) approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additional Information

  • Source:Eirene. 2024/01, Vol. 60, p55
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Biography
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:0046-1628
  • Accession Number:187108402
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Eirene is the property of Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute for Classical Studies at the Institute of Philosophy and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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