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 necessarily creates the best possible world — Carmelics
    Home/Divine Attributes
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    Connected to 2 discussions

    Supports→It is necessarily true that God creates w*
    Supports→The actual world w* is the best possible world

    God necessarily creates the best possible world

    Divine AttributesModality & Possibility
    ?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.God necessarily does what is fittest and best
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Creating the best possible world is what is fittest and best for God to do
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Leibniz's own framework requires that God freely chooses the best world from among genuinely possible alternatives, preserving contingency in creation.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If God necessarily creates the best world, creation becomes logically entailed by God's nature, collapsing the distinction between necessary and contingent existence.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.A creation that follows necessarily from God's nature is not a free act of will but a logical emanation, contradicting the orthodox theistic doctrine of free divine agency.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason against 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.If a best possible world exists, there is no world better than it; but for any candidate world, a better one can always be conceived by adding more goodness.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Therefore, the concept of a 'best possible world' is incoherent, making it impossible for God to necessarily create one.
      ?

      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 AttributesModality & Possibility

    Connections

    1 topic

    Natural Theology4 linked

    Related

    A creation that follows necessarily from God's nature is not a free act of will ...Being the best possible world is an essential property of whatever world has itCreating the best possible world is what is fittest and best for God to doGod has created w*
    +9 moreShow less
    God necessarily does what is fittest and bestIf God necessarily creates the best world, creation becomes logically entailed b...If a best possible world exists, there is no world better than it; but for any c...It is necessarily true that God creates w*Leibniz's own framework requires that God freely chooses the best world from amo...The actual world w* is the best possible worldTherefore it is necessarily true that w* is the best possible worldTherefore, the concept of a 'best possible world' is incoherent, making it impos...

    Similar

    God must create the best of all possible worlds.92%There exists a best possible world90%A perfectly good God would create the best possible world88%w* is the best possible world85%

    Source

    AI-extracted
    SEP: edwards
    View source passageHide passage
    An apparent consequence is that God must create a world to display his glory. End of Creation contends both that God's perfections include “a propensity of nature to diffuse of his own fullness” and that it isn't “possible for him to be hindered in the exercise of his goodness and his other perfections in their proper effect.” (End of Creation, 1765; Edwards 1957–, vol. 8, 447) It follows that God must diffuse his own fullness, i. e., God must create. Edwards also appears committed to the claim

    Details

    Type
    premise
    Perspectives
    3 (1 for, 2 against)
    Edits
    1 edit
    w* is the best possible world