Providence and Evil

This monograph represents Peter Geach's systematic defense of divine providence against the perennial challenge posed by the existence of evil. Writing from within the analytic tradition while drawing substantially on Thomistic philosophy, Geach constructs a rigorous philosophical framework that attempts to reconcile God's sovereignty with the reality of suffering and moral wrongdoing.

Geach's central argument rests on a distinction between God's causative will and permissive will. He maintains that while God actively wills all good, evil occurs only through divine permission rather than direct causation. This permission, Geach contends, serves a greater providential purpose that finite human reason cannot fully comprehend. He develops this position through careful logical analysis, employing the tools of modern philosophical logic while remaining grounded in classical theological categories.

The work engages critically with both contemporary philosophers and historical figures. Geach challenges the logical problem of evil as formulated by J.L. Mackie and others, arguing that their formulations rest on inadequate conceptions of divine attributes and human freedom. He also addresses process theologians who attempt to resolve the problem by limiting divine omnipotence, a move Geach rejects as philosophically and theologically untenable. Throughout, he demonstrates deep engagement with Aquinas, whose influence permeates the work's metaphysical framework.

Methodologically, Geach combines rigorous logical analysis with substantive metaphysical commitments. He refuses to separate philosophical argumentation from theological conviction, presenting a unified vision that challenges the supposed neutrality of purely secular approaches to the problem. His treatment of divine simplicity, eternal perspective, and the nature of created freedom reflects this integration of philosophical and theological concerns.

The monograph's significance lies in its sophisticated articulation of a classical theistic response to evil within the context of twentieth-century analytic philosophy. Geach demonstrates that traditional theological positions can be defended using contemporary philosophical methods without sacrificing their essential content. His work provides important resources for those seeking to maintain belief in providence while taking seriously both the reality of evil and the demands of philosophical rigor. The text remains influential in discussions of theodicy, particularly among philosophers sympathetic to Thomistic approaches who seek intellectually robust defenses of traditional theism against modern objections.