metaphysics of god

metaphysics

the study of reality and existence

omnipotent

• having perfect power

• ability to do anything it is possible to do

omniscient

• having perfect knowledge

• knowing anything it is possible to know

omnibenevolent

• perfectly or supremely good

• being perfectly morally good

eternal

• timeless (atemporal)

• what is eternal cannot have a beginning or end

immanent

God is part of the world and his creation suffers with us

transcendance

• God is outside of his creation

• above or beyond the range of normal or physical human experience

Immutable

God is unchanging

Aquinas on God’s omnipotence

• Version 1: do anything (self-contradictory?)

• Version 2: logically possible (against fundamental nature?)

• Version 3: logically possible + not against nature (paradox of the stone?)

paradox of the stone

• could God create an unliftable stone?

• either cannot lift, or cannot make

• God is not omnipotent

response to paradox of the stone

Mavrodes: paradox is based on non-omnipotence (not God)

alternative response to paradox of the stone

Wade Savage: no limitation on power, in either category