Convocatoria para la recepción de artículos
Kantian Theodicy Reconsidered
Guest Editors: Pablo Muchnik and Courtney Fugate
The Problem of Evil persists as one of the key questions in philosophy: How can an omnipotent, benevolent, and just deity allow evil to exist in the world? Despite Kant’s widespread philosophical influence, his engagement with this question, particularly in On the Miscarriage of All Philosophical Trials in Theodicy (MPT) (1791), remains surprisingly neglected.
This special issue aims to correct such an oversight by offering the first sustained collective examination of MPT. In this late and puzzling essay, Kant not only critiques traditional rational theodicies but proposes a compelling, morally rigorous alternative deserving renewed attention.
We invite original, previously unpublished papers exploring Kant's MPT. Potential topics include:
- Reassessing MPT: Its role as a central text in Kant’s critical philosophy and its distinctive approach to theodicy.
- MPT within Kant’s Critical Philosophy: Connections to the Critique of the Power of Judgment and anticipation of arguments in Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason.
- Historical & Political Context: MPT in late 18th-century Prussia, including Kant’s responses to censorship and religious intolerance.
- Contemporary Relevance: How Kant's insights enrich current debates in philosophy of religion, moral philosophy, theology, and public ethics.
Deadline for submission: January 30th, 2026.
Please direct any inquiries to the Guest Editors: Pablo Muchnik (pablo_muchnik@emerson.edu) and Courtney Fugate (cf22t@fsu.edu).
This Special Issue will be dedicated to the memory of Lawrence Pasternack (1966-2024), whose work on Kant’s philosophy of religion remains continuously inspiring.
