philosopher Nick Trakakis proposes three additional requirements that must be included in a theodicy:
* Common sense views of the world
* Widely-held historical and scientific opinion
* Plausible moral principles

As a response to the problem of evil, a theodicy is distinct from a defense. A defense attempts to demonstrate that the occurrence of evil does not contradict God's existence, but a defense does not propose that rational beings are able to understand why God permits evil.