RS a level PHILOSOPHY - nature or attributes of God

ao1 and ao2

spec points of characteristics evaluated in this topic

omnipotence, omniscience, omnibenevolence, eternity, free will

summarise Descartes’ view of omnipotence

God can do anything, including the logically impossible

summarise Geach’s analogy of omnipotence

God is like a chess master, he doesn’t control every move but he will always win in the end; his plan will always materialise

summarise Aquinas’ view of omnipotence

God can do that which is logically possible for a perfect being to do

summarise Vardy’s view of omnipotence

God engages in self-limitation so we have free will

quote from psalms suggesting God knows the future before it happens

“all the days ordained for me were written in your book”

which analogy does Schleiermacher use to show how God knows the choices free human will make

a very close friend

why does Kant suggest humans must have free will

it is one of the 3 postulates of morality; we cannot be morally responsible without free will

what is the difference between an atemporal and an everlasting God

atemporal is outside of time, everlasting is inside of time

4 scholars who suggest God is atemporal

boethius, aquinas, schleiermacher, anselm

2 scholars who suggest God is everlasting

swinburne, hartshorne

summarise Boethian view

human knowledge is constrained by time while God’s knowledge is transcendent

God sees no past present or future but every event happens simultaneously

analogy of the mountain

simple vs conditional necessities: human choices are conditional necessities because they’re necessarily the case after they happen but not before

summarise Anselm’s view

builds on Boethian view

humans are presentist while God is not

time is the 4th dimension that God exists outside of

summarise Swinburne’s view

God reacts to humans with anger, sympathy etc, which shows he is changeable and reacts to things within time

evidence from story of King Hezekiah

what is the anti-realist view of God

he is a projection of human concerns and desires

what is the Euthyphro dilemma

is it good because God commands it or does God command it because it’s good

how does Boethius define eternity

“simultaneous possession of boundless life”

how does Anselm define eternity

“eternal present”

quote from Aquinas supporting his views on omnipotence and benevolence

“it is impossible for God to will anything but what his own wisdom understands as good”

quote from Anselm extending Boethius’ idea that human action is conditionally necessary

“that which he foreknows in his eternity is immutable, in time it is mutable before it happens”

quote from Swinburne supporting divine self-limitation

“God himself is responsible for there being limits to his knowledge”

which argument from Aquinas does Hartshorne dispute

Hartshorne argues God is not impassable as Aquinas suggests; he is capable of suffering

Hartshorne’s view reconciling an omniscient and everlasting God

God knows all the possibilities of the future but does not know which choices people will make, preserving human free will: process theology

Summarise story of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:1-11) used by Swinburne to show God is temporal

Hezekiah was on the brink of death, but he “wept bitterly” and reminded God of his faithfulness

God replied “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you”

example of a simple necessity

2+2=4

example of a conditional necessity

making the choice to buy white bread instead of brown