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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 must be immutable (harboring no unrealized potentialities).

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

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.A being can be ontologically perfect and complete while still standing in real relations to a changing creation (Aquinas's own distinction between real and logical relations).
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If God's relational properties change as creation changes, this entails Cambridge-change in God, not intrinsic change or unrealized potentiality.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Cambridge-change is compatible with full actuality, so immutability in the strong sense does not follow from the absence of unrealized potentialities.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Process theologians (Whitehead, Hartshorne) argue that a God capable of genuine responsiveness to the world is greater than one who is not, invoking a revised perfect-being theology.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If omniperfection requires maximal responsiveness, then some form of potentiality for relational states is a divine perfection, not a deficiency.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Therefore, the inference from simplicity to strict immutability presupposes a Platonic, not a theistically neutral, conception of perfection.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.God is simple.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.A simple being cannot harbor any unrealized potentialities.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Next step

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