ABSTRACT
This chapter proposes a social contract theodicy that explains why God created us in a world with evil. As the name suggests, this theodicy is modeled on social contract theory in political philosophy. Social contract theory posits a state of nature or hypothetical bargaining position, and then it appeals to the actual or hypothetical free and rational agreement to the contract as justification for the conditions of the contract. Analogously, the social contract theodicy posits a premortal choice to live in a world like this one, and if we did or would freely and rationally choose to live in a world like this one, then the general conditions of this world are justified by our consent. By emphasizing the role of consent, this theodicy provides a uniquely suitable explanation for why God is justified in creating us in this world.
