Exploring Mormon Thought 012-The Attributes of God Ch 7 - Divine Foreknowledge and the Mormon Concept of Free Agency (Part 1)
Jun 19, 2017
Dive into the intriguing relationship between divine foreknowledge and free will in Mormon thought. Explore how hypothetical free will is shaped by desires and choices, exemplified through thought experiments like Mr. Rock's moral dilemma. Uncover the historical debate on free agency, from Augustine's ideas to modern interpretations. With a focus on moral accountability, the conversation challenges traditional views, revealing the complexities of genuine choice and its implications for personal responsibility.
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Understanding Causal Determinism
- Causal determinism asserts every event has a prior cause fully explaining it, disallowing any other possible outcome.
- This means if causal determinism is true, events cannot happen otherwise than they do.
Mr. Rock and Mars Bar Anecdote
- Mr. Rock wants to steal a Mars bar and acts on that desire freely when unimpeded.
- Scientists implant a device to ensure he steals regardless, showing freedom but no alternative possibility.
Limits of Hypothetical Free Will
- Hypothetical free will fails as morally accountable free will since moral responsibility implies the real ability to do otherwise.
- Mere conditional ability to do otherwise is insufficient; true freedom requires actual power to choose differently.