Exploring Mormon Thought

011-The Attributes of God Ch 6 - The Incompatibility of Free Will and Infallible Foreknowledge

Jun 12, 2017
Explore the intriguing clash between divine foreknowledge and human free will. The discussion uncovers logical arguments for their incompatibility, revealing the pitfalls of previous theological models. Delve into the philosophical insights from Augustine and Aquinas regarding how past events influence our freedoms. The interplay of semantics and logical reasoning highlights the complexity of human agency. Critiques of determinism further illuminate the unpredictability of human behavior in light of divine insight, making for a captivating exploration.
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INSIGHT

Invalidity of Necessity from Foreknowledge

  • The argument that God's foreknowledge makes a future action necessary is logically invalid.
  • Knowing an event is coming doesn't mean the event cannot be otherwise.
INSIGHT

Aquinas on Necessity of the Past

  • Aquinas argues that since the past is necessary and unchangeable, what God knows about the past is also necessary.
  • Therefore, God's infallible knowledge of future acts rooted in past knowledge implies those acts are necessary.
ANECDOTE

Blake Osler on Time Travel

  • Blake Osler initially thought time travel was logically possible but changed his mind.
  • Changing the past would violate basic logical laws, making it impossible.
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