Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

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

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    God is being in general — Carmelics
    Home/Divine Attributes
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    God is being in general

    Divine AttributesNatural Theology
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    2 reasons against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Finite beings are absolutely and immediately dependent upon God for both their being and their properties
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.God is the only true substance and the only true cause
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.As the only true substance and cause, God is the head of the entire system of beings
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Being-in-general is an abstraction, and abstractions lack the personal attributes—intellect, will, love—that theism requires God to possess.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Edwards's identification collapses the distinction between God and the totality of beings, making his position functionally indistinguishable from Spinozistic pantheism.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Classical theism (Aquinas, Scotus) insists God is not a genus or universal but a singular, wholly simple substance—Being Itself, not being-in-general.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason against 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.If finite beings are absolutely dependent on God as the only true substance, finite beings have no genuine ontological standing, which contradicts creation ex nihilo's affirmation of real creaturely existence.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.The supporting argument's move from 'only true substance' to 'being in general' is a non-sequitur: a unique substance is maximally particular, not maximally general.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Sign in or register to share your perspective on this statement.

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.

    Topics

    Divine AttributesNatural Theology

    Connections

    1 topic

    Causation1 linked

    Related

    As the only true substance and cause, God is the head of the entire system of be...Being-in-general is an abstraction, and abstractions lack the personal attribute...Classical theism (Aquinas, Scotus) insists God is not a genus or universal but a...Edwards's identification collapses the distinction between God and the totality ...
    +4 moreShow less
    Finite beings are absolutely and immediately dependent upon God for both their b...God is the only true substance and the only true causeIf finite beings are absolutely dependent on God as the only true substance, fin...The supporting argument's move from 'only true substance' to 'being in general' ...

    Similar

    <God> is general because it places God within a broader class, namely ...76%God is the chief part of being.76%Numenius' first God is being itself (ho ôn), not beyond being75%If Being just is beings taken collectively, then God could only be a b...75%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: edwards
    View source passageHide passage
    Why, though, is God being in general? Because finite beings are absolutely and immediately dependent upon him for both their being and properties. Indeed, as the only true substance and only true cause, created beings are no more than God's “shadows” or “images.” (While “particular minds” deliberate and choose, and so possess a kind of agency, they lack real power and are thus no more than images of divine agency. Because they lack not only power but also consciousness and will, bodies are even
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (1 for, 2 against)
    Edits
    1 edit