Omnipotence and other puzzles Michael Lacewing co.uk Michael Lacewing co.uk

Definition 1  Omnipotence means ‘all-powerful’; but how should this be understood?  The power to do anything  Including the logically impossible?  Omnipotence means ‘all-powerful’; but how should this be understood?  The power to do anything  Including the logically impossible?

Limits to omnipotence 1: logic  Is logic a limitation on God’s power?  God can’t change logic, not because of a lack of power, but because any description of a logically impossible state of affairs or power is not a description at all  Is logic a limitation on God’s power?  God can’t change logic, not because of a lack of power, but because any description of a logically impossible state of affairs or power is not a description at all

Definition 2a  The power to do whatever it is possible for a perfect being (or the greatest possible being) to do  Maximal power: no being could have more power  When powers are combined, some are excluded - God can’t go jogging, but can create space (a spatial being can’t create space, a non-spatial being can’t go jogging)  Each power is possible on its own, but their combination is not  The power to do whatever it is possible for a perfect being (or the greatest possible being) to do  Maximal power: no being could have more power  When powers are combined, some are excluded - God can’t go jogging, but can create space (a spatial being can’t create space, a non-spatial being can’t go jogging)  Each power is possible on its own, but their combination is not

Definition 2b  The power to do whatever it is possible for a perfect being (or the greatest possible being) to do  Possessing every power it is logically possible to possess  Is going jogging a separate ‘power”? Or is it, instead, an exercise of free will moving a body? God can do this  The power to do whatever it is possible for a perfect being (or the greatest possible being) to do  Possessing every power it is logically possible to possess  Is going jogging a separate ‘power”? Or is it, instead, an exercise of free will moving a body? God can do this

Limits to omnipotence 2: stone paradox  Can God create a stone so heavy that he can’t lift it?  If yes, he can’t lift it; if no, he can’t create it  ‘The power to create a stone an omnipotent being can’t lift’ is logically incoherent, so it’s not a possible power.  Or: the stone is, by definition, impossible to lift. If God lacks the power to lift a stone it is logically impossible to lift, there is still no power God lacks.  Can God create a stone so heavy that he can’t lift it?  If yes, he can’t lift it; if no, he can’t create it  ‘The power to create a stone an omnipotent being can’t lift’ is logically incoherent, so it’s not a possible power.  Or: the stone is, by definition, impossible to lift. If God lacks the power to lift a stone it is logically impossible to lift, there is still no power God lacks.

Limits to omnipotence 3: evil  Can God commit evil? If God is all- good, should we say no?  God can commit evil, but always chooses not to  There is no distinct power of ‘committing evil’ because ‘evil’ is not a type of act.  There is no distinct power of ‘committing evil’ because ‘evil’ is simply the absence of good. Evil is failure.  Can God commit evil? If God is all- good, should we say no?  God can commit evil, but always chooses not to  There is no distinct power of ‘committing evil’ because ‘evil’ is not a type of act.  There is no distinct power of ‘committing evil’ because ‘evil’ is simply the absence of good. Evil is failure.

Limits to omnipotence 4  Could God commit suicide? Not if God exists necessarily, because then God not existing is logically impossible.  Could God make himself non- omnipotent? God cannot make himself not-God, God not being God is logically impossible.  But then can God make a tiger an antelope? He could turn one into the other, but not create an animal that is both a tiger and an antelope at the same time.  Could God commit suicide? Not if God exists necessarily, because then God not existing is logically impossible.  Could God make himself non- omnipotent? God cannot make himself not-God, God not being God is logically impossible.  But then can God make a tiger an antelope? He could turn one into the other, but not create an animal that is both a tiger and an antelope at the same time.