Augustinian Theodicy
St. Augustine's theodicy attributing evil to the misuse of human free will, not to God's design. God created all things good; evil is not a positive force but a privatio boni (privation of good), an absence or corruption of goodness. Humans freely choose to disobey God, causing moral and natural evil.
Real World
The Catholic Church's teaching that addiction represents a corruption of the God-given will — rather than a new evil substance — directly reflects Augustine's privatio boni: heroin does not introduce evil, it corrupts an existing good (human freedom).
Exam Focus
Always define privatio boni in your own words early in the answer; examiners deduct marks when Latin terms appear without explanation.
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