There is some discussion in the literature whether the problem of hiddenness is a species of the problem of evil. I think the theist should say that it is, and can even identify the type of evil it is. There are some important propositions which it is normal for a human being to know, or at least to believe, ignorance of which is constitutive of not having a flourishing life. Examples include not realizing that one’s fellows are persons, not realizing that one is a person, not possessing basic moral truths, etc. If God in fact exists, then the proposition that God exists falls in the same category of propositions it is normal for humans to believe, and without believing which we cannot flourish.
A corollary of this is that if we can find a good theodicy for other cases of ignorance of truths needed for a flourishing human life, then we have hope that that theodicy would apply to ignorance of the existence of God.
2 comments:
Alex
"If we can find a good theodicy for other cases of ignorance of truths needed for a flourishing human life, then we have hope that that theodicy would apply to ignorance of the existence of God."
The question is, of course, can we find a good theodicy for other cases of ignorance of truths needed for a flourishing human life? I have yet to hear such theodicy.
But even if we could, the "other cases" could perhaps be twisted to make the human being somehow responisible. In the case of hiddenness, it is clearly God's responsibility.
I think the type of Neo-Platonic story told by Mark Johnston provides the solution to the puzzle.
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