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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Classical theism, from Aquinas through the Thomistic tradition, holds that God is absolutely simple and cannot be a composite of parts.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.God appears to have distinct attributes (justice, mercy, knowledge, power); pure identity of all attributes seems conceptually incoherent.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.A God with no internal distinctions cannot explain how He sustains a composite, differentiated creation without composition Himself.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Divine simplicity makes it mysterious how God can have knowledge of multiple distinct truths without internal multiplicity.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.If God has parts, those parts would be ontologically prior to God, making God dependent on components rather than maximally independent.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Composition entails potential for division or dissolution; an absolutely perfect being cannot have this vulnerability.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Divine simplicity preserves God's aseity (self-sufficiency) and explains why all divine attributes are identical to God's essence.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

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    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.