Karma, Rebirth, and the Problem of Evil

• Published in: Philosophy east & west Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 15 - 32
• Main Author: Kaufman, Whitley R. P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Honolulu University of Hawaii Press 01-01-2005; University of Hawai'i Press
• Subjects: Criminal justice; Criminal punishment; Death; Determinism; Ethical instruction; Evil; Fate; Good & evil; Karma; Morality; Philosophy; Philosophy of religion; Rebirth; Religion; Theodicy; Theology; Validity; Weber, Max (1864-1920); New York; United States > US; India
• ISSN: 0031-8221; 1529-1898; 1529-1898
• DOI: 10.1353/pew.2004.0044

The doctrine of karma and rebirth is often praised for its ability to offer a successful solution to the Problem of Evil. This essay evaluates such a claim by considering whether the doctrine can function as a systematic theodicy, as an explanation of all human suffering in terms of wrongs done in either this or past lives. This purported answer to the Problem of Evil must face a series of objections, including the problem of any lack of memory of past lives, the lack of proportionality between wrongdoing and the observed suffering in the world, the problem of infinite regress of explanation, and the problem of compatibility of free will with karmic determinism. These objections, either separately or taken together, provide (it is argued) sufficient reason to doubt whether the doctrine of karma and rebirth can in fact provide a satisfactory theodicy.