부산대학교 도서관

This paper focuses on Plato's theodicy in his Laws book X. In this book Plato treats legislation against impiety, dividing into three types. The problem of theodicy has to do with the second type. An Athenian, who is the spokesman for Plato, points out that "prosperity of the wicked" causes people this type of impiety. These people believe the gods exist, but think they take no care for human affairs. Persuasion for them is divided into two parts: persuasion by logos, which proves that the gods are concerned with even human affairs as well as cosmic ones, and by myths, which show cosmic vision surrounding human and retributive principle. This principle, invented by the gods as concern over all things, works strictly as if it was a "mechanism." The Athenian says retribution by this principle emerges not only in the afterlife but also in this world, and the "mechanism" gathers wicked together with wicked in order to make them do evil deeds to each other. This declaration is Plato's theodicean reply to the second type of impious people who envy "the prosperity of the wicked." Though scholars say that the "mechanism" as gods' concern is Plato's understanding of theodicy, I propose another aspect of his theodicy: Plato shows the positive side of the gods' concern for human beings.