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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 God is identical to his existence.

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

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
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    • 1.Existence is not a predicate or property but a logical precondition for having properties, as Kant argues in the Critique of Pure Reason.
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    • 2.If existence is not a genuine attribute, then identifying God with his existence is a category error, not a metaphysical achievement.
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    • 3.The doctrine of divine simplicity requires existence to function as a genuine attribute, which Kantian logic denies it can be.
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    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Aquinas's real distinction between essence and existence in creatures relies on Avicennian essentialism, which treats essences as intelligible apart from instantiation.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If essences are not mind-independent universals but rather abstractions from particulars, as nominalists like Ockham contend, then the essence-existence distinction dissolves for creatures and cannot anchor the contrast with divine simplicity.
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      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Without a coherent real distinction in creatures, the via negationis that establishes God's identity with his existence loses its comparative foundation.
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    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.God is identical to each of his attributes.
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    • 2.God is identical to his nature.
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    • 3.God's nature or essence is identical to his existence.
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    Reason against 2 of 2
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    • 1.What makes a contingent being contingent is the real distinction in it between essence and existence.
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    • 2.What makes an absolutely necessary being necessary is the lack of such a distinction between essence and existence.
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    • 3.God has his necessity from himself and not from another.
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    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.