Natural vs. Moral Evil
Philosophers distinguish natural evils (suffering from natural causes: disease, earthquakes, storms) from moral evils (suffering caused by human choices: violence, cruelty, injustice). This distinction shapes theodicy strategies: moral evil is addressed through free will defenses; natural evil requires different justifications.
Real World
The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (natural evil killing 230,000 people) versus the Holocaust (moral evil through deliberate human genocide) illustrate why a single theodicy cannot address both categories equally.
Exam Focus
Always specify which type of evil a theodicy addresses best; free will defences only cover moral evil — examiners reward this precision.
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