1. The Three Primary Divine Attributes
1. The three primary divine attributes:
Omnipotence: God has maximal powerful, is all powerful, capable of doing anything
Omniscience: God is all seeing and all knowing
Omnibenevolence: God does only good, God is morally perfect and is considered the source of morality
Two secondary divine attributes:
Omniprescence: God is present everywhere at the same time
Incorporeal: God is not composed of matter, has no material existence
2. The Thomistic Account of Omnipotence states that x is omnipotent, by definition for any logically possible state of affairs, o, it is possible for x to bring it about that o.
The Cartesian Account of Omnipotence states that x is omnipotent by definition for any state of affairs, o, it is possible for x to bring it about that o.
I favor Saint Thomas' account. It offers more clarity, I believe than Descartes position. It seems to allow for clarity in terms of revealing internal or joint consistency in possible arguments and can be used to show limited aspect of paradoxical arguments. If something is not logically possible then a paradox may be shown to be inconsistent, or incoherent.
3. Paradox of the Stone
1. Either God can create a stone which he cannot lift, or he cannot create a stone which he cannot lift.
2. If God cannot create a stone which he cannot lift, then he is not omnipotent
3. If God can create a stone which he cannot lift, then He is not omnipotent
4. Therefore, God is not omnipotent
This argument attempts to show that the notion of God's omnipotence is incoherent. By definition, omnipotence means that God is all powerful and capable of doing anything. Omnipotence is also a divine attribute of God. In line 1 Mavrodes presents two possible states of affairs. In line two he...
Please login to view the full essay...