Voluntarism

Question 1

What is Descartes’ view on God’s omnipotence known as?

Answer 1

Descartes’ view on God’s omnipotence is known as voluntarism, which argues that God can do anything, even the logically impossible.

Question 2

What does voluntarism suggest about logical necessity?

Answer 2

Voluntarism suggests that if God can do the logically impossible, then nothing is logically impossible, undermining the concept of logical necessity.

Question 3

How does voluntarism affect responses to the problem of evil?

Answer 3

Voluntarism undermines theodicies by suggesting that God could eliminate evil without contradicting divine justice, free will, or opportunities for growth, which raises the question of why evil exists.