Margaret Cavendish, Feminist Ethics, and the Problem of Evil
This paper argues that, although Margaret Cavendish’s main philosophical contributions are not in philosophy of religion, she makes a case for a defense of God, in spite of the worst sorts of harms being present in the world. Her arguments about those harms actually presage those of contem...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-04-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/9/4/132 |
| _version_ | 1811314719564234752 |
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| author | Jill Graper Hernandez |
| author_facet | Jill Graper Hernandez |
| author_sort | Jill Graper Hernandez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper argues that, although Margaret Cavendish’s main philosophical contributions are not in philosophy of religion, she makes a case for a defense of God, in spite of the worst sorts of harms being present in the world. Her arguments about those harms actually presage those of contemporary feminist ethicists, which positions Cavendish’s scholarship in a unique position: it makes a positive theodical contribution, by relying on evils that contemporary atheists think are the best evidence against the existence of God. To demonstrate that Cavendish’s work should be considered as early modern feminist theodicy, this paper will briefly introduce the contemporary feminist worry about theodicy as a project, show that Cavendish shares the contemporary feminist view about situated evil, and argue that her theodicy aims for agreement about how to eradicate great moral evils while preserving free will—and so, carves out a space for future female philosophers of religion who aim to be agents of healing in the face of such evil. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:17:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-46197d9acc97404c91cdbf5689e5255f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T11:17:31Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-46197d9acc97404c91cdbf5689e5255f2022-12-22T02:48:55ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442018-04-019413210.3390/rel9040132rel9040132Margaret Cavendish, Feminist Ethics, and the Problem of EvilJill Graper Hernandez0Department of Philosophy, University of Texas at San Antonio, 10 Cocke Dr, San Antonio, TX 78249, USAThis paper argues that, although Margaret Cavendish’s main philosophical contributions are not in philosophy of religion, she makes a case for a defense of God, in spite of the worst sorts of harms being present in the world. Her arguments about those harms actually presage those of contemporary feminist ethicists, which positions Cavendish’s scholarship in a unique position: it makes a positive theodical contribution, by relying on evils that contemporary atheists think are the best evidence against the existence of God. To demonstrate that Cavendish’s work should be considered as early modern feminist theodicy, this paper will briefly introduce the contemporary feminist worry about theodicy as a project, show that Cavendish shares the contemporary feminist view about situated evil, and argue that her theodicy aims for agreement about how to eradicate great moral evils while preserving free will—and so, carves out a space for future female philosophers of religion who aim to be agents of healing in the face of such evil.http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/9/4/132Margaret Cavendishtheodicyproblem of evilfree willfeminist ethicsatrocity paradigmredemptive goodsdivine justice |
| spellingShingle | Jill Graper Hernandez Margaret Cavendish, Feminist Ethics, and the Problem of Evil Religions Margaret Cavendish theodicy problem of evil free will feminist ethics atrocity paradigm redemptive goods divine justice |
| title | Margaret Cavendish, Feminist Ethics, and the Problem of Evil |
| title_full | Margaret Cavendish, Feminist Ethics, and the Problem of Evil |
| title_fullStr | Margaret Cavendish, Feminist Ethics, and the Problem of Evil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Margaret Cavendish, Feminist Ethics, and the Problem of Evil |
| title_short | Margaret Cavendish, Feminist Ethics, and the Problem of Evil |
| title_sort | margaret cavendish feminist ethics and the problem of evil |
| topic | Margaret Cavendish theodicy problem of evil free will feminist ethics atrocity paradigm redemptive goods divine justice |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/9/4/132 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jillgraperhernandez margaretcavendishfeministethicsandtheproblemofevil |