Re: Theodicy
Posted by diogenes on 2025-July-2 07:10:51, WednesdayIn reply to Theodicy posted by Pharmakon on 2025-July-2 00:08:04, Wednesday
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"I suspect Diogenes of disingenuity in suggesting he needs to have the Book of Job explained to him." That's very kind of you, and I have read it, though I'm afraid I too find the whole thing mysterious. God's reply to Job is an answer that is no answer. As theodicy I found it profoundly unsatisfactory. This in no way detracts from the text's magnificent literary qualities. "It might be hard for Diogenes to argue with math." The notion of proving God's existence mathematically reminds of Thiébault's (apocryphal) story of Euler's meeting with Diderot: He advanced towards Diderot, and said gravely, and in a tone of perfect conviction: "Monsieur, (a + bn) / n = x, donc Dieu existe; répondez!" Diderot, to whom algebra was Hebrew, was embarrassed and disconcerted; while peals of laughter rose on all sides. He asked permission to return to France at once, which was granted.(Apocryphal because Thiébault doesn't seriously defend its truth, the equation makes no sense, and Diderot, far from finding algebra incomprehensible, was himself a very able mathematician.)  |
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