Chapter 2

Question 1

Boethius - Problem

Answer 1

Boethius identified a potential problem – if God is omniscient and knows everything, that includes future human actions. If God knows what i’m going to do next, then it’s set in stone and I lack free will.

God cannot be just or omnibenevolent in punishing us in the afterlife for our sins.

Omniscience seems to undermine free will, which then conflicts with justice/omnibenevolence

Question 2

Boethius - Solution

Answer 2

God is eternal – outside of time.

This means God doesn’t see time unfolding moment by moment like we do – he sees it all at once in one moment.

This means God simply sees the results of our free choices.

He knows what we are going to do next, but this doesn’t take away our free will – because his knowledge does not determine or force our action.

Which therefore doesn’t undermine free will

Question 3

Counter to Boethius

Answer 3

God’s omniscience may not force our action – but it still means our actions are fixed or set in stone or necessary.

It makes no sense to say that God eternally sees our future free choices, since then we couldn’t do otherwise and thus they couldn’t be free.