The Free Will Defense

Summary

This video explores Alvin Plantinga's Free Will Defense, addressing the question of how a perfectly good and all-powerful God can coexist with evil in the world. Plantinga argues that while God is omnipotent, even He cannot do the impossible—such as creating beings with free will who are guaranteed never to choose evil. The existence of free will, according to Plantinga, is a great good that adds value to the world, even with the possibility of evil. The video invites viewers to consider this philosophical perspective and delve deeper into these ideas.

Takeaways

• 🛡️ The freewill defense argues that the existence of both God and evil is logically possible.
• 💡 Omnipotence allows God to control what is possible but not the power to do the impossible (e.g., making a square with no corners).
• 🤔 God cannot guarantee that creatures with free will always choose to do good without eliminating their freedom.
• 🚴 True freedom involves the ability to do otherwise; if a person is forced to act a certain way, their action is not genuinely free.
• 🌍 God can create a world with free creatures, but He cannot ensure they never bring about evil without removing their freedom.
• 🔑 Free will is considered a great and valuable good, possibly greater than a world with no free creatures and no evil.
• ❓ Plantinga's freewill defense doesn’t claim to explain God's actual reason for permitting evil, but offers a logical possibility.
• 🧩 The freewill defense counters the claim that the coexistence of God and evil is impossible.
• 🙋 A key question is why God didn't create only those who would always freely choose good, which is a complex issue Plantinga explores further.
• 📚 The video suggests exploring more of Plantinga's ideas for a deeper understanding of these philosophical arguments.

Q & A

What is the 'Free Will Defense' presented in the transcript?

The 'Free Will Defense,' presented by Alvin Plantinga, argues that God and evil can coexist because genuine free will entails the possibility of evil. If God created beings with free will, He cannot ensure they will always choose good without removing their freedom.

Why does the existence of free will make it impossible for God to prevent evil, according to Plantinga?

According to Plantinga, part of what makes an action truly free is the ability to do otherwise. If God guaranteed that people would never choose evil, they would lose genuine freedom, making it impossible for God to prevent evil without eliminating free will.

Why can’t an omnipotent God do the impossible, like making a square without corners?

Plantinga argues that omnipotence means having power over what is possible, not the power to do the logically impossible. Just as God cannot create a square with no corners, He cannot give beings free will and simultaneously control all their actions.

Why might free will be considered a greater good, even if it results in the existence of evil?

Free will might be considered a greater good because it allows for genuine choice and moral responsibility. Plantinga suggests that the combination of free will and the evil that results from it could be more valuable than a world with no evil but also no freedom.

Why doesn't Plantinga's defense necessarily provide a theodicy?

A theodicy offers a specific explanation for why God permits evil, but Plantinga’s Free Will Defense doesn’t claim to explain God's actual reasons. Instead, it provides a possible explanation for how God and evil can coexist, making it a defense rather than a theodicy.

How does Plantinga respond to the idea that God could have created only people who would freely choose to do good?

Plantinga acknowledges this is a challenging question. His Free Will Defense suggests that God could not guarantee that people with free will would always choose good without compromising their freedom.

Why does the Free Will Defense focus on the value of freedom?

The Free Will Defense focuses on the value of freedom because it emphasizes that moral good can only come from beings who can freely choose between good and evil. Without the ability to choose evil, actions lack moral significance.

Does Plantinga’s Free Will Defense claim to fully explain why evil exists?

No, Plantinga’s Free Will Defense does not claim to fully explain why evil exists. It merely provides a plausible explanation for how evil and God’s goodness can coexist without denying the possibility of free will.

Why might Plantinga believe that God cannot guarantee that beings always use their free will correctly?

Plantinga believes that guaranteeing beings always use their free will correctly would negate the very concept of free will. If beings were guaranteed to always choose good, their choices would not be genuinely free.

What role does the concept of 'logical impossibility' play in the Free Will Defense?

Logical impossibility is central to the Free Will Defense because it suggests that even God cannot do what is logically contradictory, such as creating free beings who are incapable of choosing evil. This limitation on omnipotence supports the idea that God cannot prevent all evil while preserving free will.