What Is God Like?: Crash Course Philosophy #12

Summary

This Crash Course Philosophy episode delves into the traditional divine attributes of God, such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnibenevolence, and omnipresence, exploring the philosophical puzzles they present. It discusses the implications of these attributes on concepts like free will and the nature of God's goodness, and examines potential resolutions, including Aquinas's analogical predication and Eleanor Stump's views on petitionary prayers. The episode encourages viewers to consider the complexities of the divine and question conventional beliefs about God's nature.

Takeaways

• 🛐 The script discusses the traditional concept of an 'omni-God' in Judeo-Christian-Muslim traditions, which is a deity with specific divine attributes.
• 📜 The term 'omni-God' refers to a deity that is omniscient (knows everything), omnipotent (all-powerful), omnibenevolent (perfect goodness), omnitemporal (exists in all time), and omnipresent (exists everywhere).
• 🤔 The script raises philosophical puzzles related to these divine attributes, such as the paradox of God creating a rock so heavy He can't lift it, which questions the consistency of omnipotence.
• 👁️ The concept of God's omniscience brings up questions about human free will and predestination, challenging the idea of a predetermined future versus free choice.
• 💡 Philosophers like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, influenced by Plato and Aristotle, developed the set of divine attributes still widely accepted among theists today.
• 🧩 The script suggests that the divine attributes might be internally inconsistent, implying that they cannot all be true at the same time, and proposes philosophical approaches to reconcile them.
• 🙏 It explores the idea of petitionary prayers and whether they can influence an omniscient and omnipotent God's decisions, with philosopher Eleanor Stump arguing that they may not change outcomes but have inherent value.
• 💭 Thomas Aquinas' concept of analogical predication is introduced, suggesting that our understanding and descriptions of God are merely analogies, as we cannot fully comprehend the divine.
• 🌐 The script mentions that some modern thinkers propose a different view of God, one that is not perfectly omnipotent or omniscient, aligning more closely with the human-like portrayals of God in the Bible.
• 🌟 The episode concludes by highlighting the complexity of understanding God's nature through traditional attributes and the ongoing philosophical dialogue to reconcile these with religious texts and beliefs.
• 🌐 The video is sponsored by Squarespace, which offers an easy way to create professional-looking websites without coding, and is produced in association with PBS Digital Studios.

Q & A

What is the traditional view of God in Judeo-Christian tradition?

The traditional view of God in Judeo-Christian tradition is often referred to as the 'omni-God,' possessing divine attributes such as omniscience (all-knowing), omnipotence (all-powerful), omnibenevolence (perfect goodness), omnitemporality (existing at all times), and omnipresence (existing in all places).

Why does the speaker focus on the Judeo-Christian God in the discussion?

The speaker focuses on the Judeo-Christian God because the philosophers being discussed, like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, believed in or debated about this God. The discussion centers around the attributes ascribed to this particular God by these philosophers.

What is the problem with the concept of God's omnipotence?

A problem with God's omnipotence is illustrated by the paradox of whether God can create a rock so heavy that He can't lift it. If He can, then there's something He cannot do (lift the rock), and if He can't, then there's something He cannot create. This paradox suggests that omnipotence might be internally inconsistent.

How does the concept of God's omniscience create a problem for the idea of human free will?

If God is omniscient and knows the future, it suggests that everything is predetermined, which conflicts with the idea that humans have free will. If our actions are known in advance, it raises the question of whether we are truly free to choose, or if freedom is just an illusion.

What is divine impeccability, and how does it conflict with omnipotence?

Divine impeccability is the doctrine that God cannot sin, which seems to conflict with omnipotence because if God can do anything, He should be able to sin. However, being inherently good (omnibenevolent) means He cannot sin, leading to a potential contradiction.

How does Thomas Aquinas propose we deal with the contradictions in divine attributes?

Thomas Aquinas suggests that when we talk about God, we do so using analogies because God's nature is beyond human understanding. Thus, the contradictions arise from our limited perspective, and the attributes we ascribe to God are not literally true but analogical.

What are petitionary prayers, and why does Eleanor Stump find them problematic?

Petitionary prayers are requests made to God for something to happen or not happen. Eleanor Stump finds them problematic because if God is omniscient and omnipotent, He has already determined the best course of action. Thus, asking for something through prayer either changes nothing or would lead to a worse outcome.

Why might some philosophers suggest that God is not an 'omni-God'?

Some philosophers suggest that God might not be an 'omni-God' because the traditional divine attributes create significant philosophical puzzles. Additionally, the Bible often depicts God in very human terms, such as getting angry or changing His mind, which might suggest a less perfect, more relatable being.

How does the analogy of 'cold' help explain our understanding of God according to Aquinas?

Aquinas uses the analogy of 'cold' to illustrate how our language and understanding of God are limited. Just as the word 'cold' can describe both Florida's 50-degree weather and Alaska's below-zero temperatures, our descriptions of God are analogical, reflecting our limited ability to comprehend His true nature.

What role do philosophical inquiries into divine attributes play in understanding God?

Philosophical inquiries into divine attributes help us explore and challenge our understanding of God. They expose potential contradictions and encourage deeper thinking about the nature of God, prompting us to either revise our beliefs or find ways to reconcile them.