Eleonore Stump develops and defends a theodicy of redemptive
suffering. In particular, God's permission of suffering (at least some classes, if not
instances, of serious undeserved, involuntary suffering due to natural or free causes)
is justified just in case it benefits those who suffer, it is the best possible means in the
circumstances for their benefit, and God knows this is the case. The main aim of this
paper is to show that for Stump's theodicy to have a good chance of working, it is
reasonable to think that it requires the Molinist claim that God has middle knowledge.