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Reasonable Faith Podcast
Question of the Week #921: Maximal Greatness and Middle Knowledge
Jan 9, 2025
Delve into the intriguing concept of middle knowledge and its relation to maximal greatness. The discussion highlights how middle knowledge affects our understanding of God's omniscience and omnipotence. This exploration reveals that for a being to be truly maximally great, it must embody middle knowledge, offering profound insights into the nature of divinity. Discover how philosophical theories intertwine with theological principles, deepening our comprehension of what it means to conceive of the greatest being.
03:44
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Quick takeaways
- Redefining God as a maximally great being emphasizes His nature beyond human imagination and our highest conceptions of greatness.
- The concept of middle knowledge highlights how God's omniscience and power are interconnected, allowing Him to influence free choices without coercion.
Deep dives
Understanding God's Nature
God is often defined as the greatest conceivable being, but it is suggested that a more accurate term would be a maximally great being, as articulated by Anselm. This perspective emphasizes that God surpasses even our grandest conceptions, highlighting the need for an understanding of God that goes beyond human imagination. The discussion acknowledges the notion that if middle knowledge is a coherent concept, then a maximally great being must possess it. An omniscient God would inherently know all true propositions, which would include counterfactuals regarding the choices of free beings in various scenarios.
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Discover
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