Philosophy Unit 4 NATURE OF GOD

Question 1

Omnipotence

Answer 1

All-Powereful

Question 2

Total Omnipotence

Answer 2

The belief that God can do anything even the logically impossible
E.g can turn a square into a circle

Question 3

Total Omnipotence Descartes

Answer 3

Descartes argued God can absolutely anything
‘God is totally omnipotent’ was an A-PRIOI statement according Descartes-It Has to be TRUE
If we Deny GOD’S Total Omnipotence, we are DENYING THE NATURE OF GOD
is God not Total Omnipotence we are LIMITING HIM
If we Do not understand that God can do anything that is a LIMIT OF OUR HUMAN LOGIC Not God.

Question 4

Critic Of Descartes Total Omnipotence-J.L Mackie

Answer 4

Argued the Claim that God can do the LOGICALLY IMPOSSIBLE is Wrong
as Logical Impossibilities-Do NOT EXIST -they not real

Question 5

Critic Of Descartes Total Omnipotence-Unpredictable Nature of God

Answer 5

It can be argued that a God with Total Omnipotence creates and UNPREDICTABLE AND ARBITRARY (RANDOM) TYRANT
Makes it Difficult to DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP with him

Question 6

Critic Of Descartes Total Omnipotence-Adds Problem Evil

Answer 6

If God supposedly can do absolutely ANYTHING such as PREVENT EVIL or Grant Free Will
Why doesn’t he do so?
Why is there still evil?

Question 7

Aquinas Omnipotent Nature of God

Answer 7

Aquinas argued that God can do ANYTHING that is LOGICALLY POSSIBLE
Anything which CONTRADICTS GOD’S NATURE (Evil) can not be done by God
If something is LOGICALLY CONTRADICTORY (Square Circle) then it is NOT a thing that can be MADE at ALL

Question 8

Richard Swinburne Omnipotent nature of God

Answer 8

Supported Aquinas view
Believe that God can do Everything-but “EVERYTHING” must be Understood
E.g turning a square into a circle is not a THING so therefore God does not need to do it.

Question 9

Self-imposed Limitation Peter Vardy

Answer 9

Peter Vardy argued that God’s Omnipotence is LIMITED
According to Vardy God created the universe in a way that his POWER is LIMITED
The Universe created to Suit FREE RATIONAL CREATURES (HUMANS)
Therefore God SELF-IMPOSES HIS POWER over This UNIVERSE
He is still ALL-POWERFUL as Only God can LIMIT HIS OWN POWER

Question 10

Self-imposed Limitation Josh Macquarrie

Answer 10

According to Macquarie-God CHOOSES to LIMIT his Power OUT of LOVE for HUMANITY (Ties with OMNIBENVOLENCE)
Argued that we must speak of God’s Power VERY DIFFERENTLY from our Own ;we Must Speak of God’s Power in ANALOGY (ties with RL)

Argued that God is NOT CONSTRAINED by Natural Laws or Logic/or by FREE ACTS of Humans

Question 11

Charles Hartsthorne on Total Omnipotence (understood differently)

Answer 11

Hartsthorne argued that Total and Absolute power would not be a perfect quality in reality
Better to see God as BEING WHOSE POWER CANNOT BE SURPASSED by any other BEING
God’s Omnipotence is not IMPRESSIVE if it is TOTAL
TOTAL OMNIPOTENCE according to Hartsthorne is Total Control over EVERYTHING WHICH can put No RESISTANCE
GOD can OVERCOME ALL RESISTANCE rather than no RESISTANCE MEETING GOD