Incoherence of God's Characteristics (Theories) Flashcards
Explain the Euthyphro Dilemma
Are moral acts good independent or reliant on God’s will?
The dilemma asks whether an act of goodness has its own independent value or is it reliant on God approving the act to confirm it has moral value.
What issues arise surrounding God’s Omnipotence within the Euthyphro Dilemma?
If moral acts are independent of God then he is subject to them which reduces his power consequently rendering him not Omnipotent as there is an aspect of the universe he’s unable to control.
This restraint being placed on God would cause the divine attribute of Omnipotence to be incoherent because he’s unable to control which acts are immoral so he therefore loses an aspect of his power.
How might someone argue against the power restriction argument within the Euthyphro Dilemma?
You could say that God is simply subjecting humanity to moral laws only and not himself as his existence as a divine being keeps him exempt from the restrictions of morals.
This dictation regarding the division of moral laws would rely on the idea that they only apply to people who aren’t divine beings with Omnipotence as they are excluded from the equation.
If God decides what is moral, what issues arise from this principal?
There would be no rational or ethical structure involved in what God constituted as moral and only his own desire would be in the equation.
Therefore judging morals and ethics based off one’s desire would be ridiculous and has virtually no basis meaning the viewpoint is easy to dismiss.
If this logic was applied in any other context it would be absurd as we can’t make an act morally acceptable simply because we will it to be. “Murder is ethical because I say so.”
Explain The Paradox of the Stone
Is God able to create a stone that it is impossible for him to lift?
If yes, then he is not Omnipotent because his power is limited due to his inability to lift the stone. If no, he’s not Omnipotent because his inability to create the stone is a loss of power meaning he’s no longer an all-powerful being.
Which of God’s divine attributes does the Paradox of the Stone potentially prove to be incoherent?
Omnipotence
His inability to create the stone or either not lift the stone with both yes or no answered the question could prove that God is unable to be all-powerful.
How might someone defend God’s divine characteristics when arguing against the Paradox of the Stone?
They might say that the concept of an all-powerful God being unable to lift or create a stone is inherently inconceivable due to his extreme power and dominance within the universe.
It would then be claimed that the argument was therefore baseless as it’s touching on concepts that could never happen in the first place although this would be a subjective perspective and a controversial position to hold.
How might God’s ability to be Omniscient conflict with humanity having free will?
If God is aware of every action we are potentially going to take then they are essentially predestined acts which would then be true if they are going to happen.
If they are already going to happen then we don’t actually have the choice on what we will do which removes us from having free will which is something God is supposed to have granted us.
Why does our free will conflict with God’s Omnibenevolence?
If humans have free will then they retain the ability to commit evil acts.
This isn’t something a benevolent God would allow within his world that is supposedly run by somebody who’s making ethical, compassionate choices that will benefit humanity and the planet.
How would someone argue against the idea that our free will conflicts with God’s Omnibenevolence?
They might say that our free will is a test from God as he observes whether we will act compassionately towards the planet and others while this is a benevolent action to gift us with free will and the freedom to live as we desire.
If we use this for evil is our own decision but ultimately we will face the consequences as God’s judgement causes us to enter heaven or hell when we die.
What reasons might be given to prove otherwise regarding God’s Omnipotence?
That God is only able to control what isn’t under the influence of nature and he becomes constrained consequently.
Our ability to make our own choices negates God’s all-powerful nature and ability to control us and our actions.
Nature can control many of the happenings on Earth and some may argue these aren’t under God’s influence causing him to lose his Omnipotence.
What reply would be given to the concept that nature is affecting things out of God’s sphere of influence?
God is controlling the world by using nature as a medium to do so.
Natural disasters and weather occurrences are there to punish humanity and God is in control of nature while he decides how it affects the Earth.
In terms of the Euthyphro Dilemma, what is an issue within society when morality is reliant on God’s approval?
People would become religious so they could justify their immoral actions by claiming God allowed it which would cause unethical crimes to be constantly committed and society would fall into disarray.
Why is morality being dependant on God a weak position to hold?
If the position were placed in any other context it would be easily debunked and the perspective would be forced to bite the bullet during any debate surrounding ethics and morality.
