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    If a second god is a necessary condition for the persiste... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→A second god cannot be a necessary condition of the existence of at least one concrete object distinct from itself, given that a first god is a causally sufficient condition (in the strong sense) of the existence of at least one contingent being.

    If a second god is a necessary condition for the persistence of contingent beings, it remains a necessary condition of their existence even when a first god is sufficient for their initiation.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Existence and persistence are metaphysically distinct: initiation requires different causal powers than maintaining being through time.
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    • 2.Contingent beings require continuous causal support against non-existence, not merely initial actualization from potentiality.
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    • 3.A first cause need not possess all perfections; a second agent could specialize in sustaining what another agent brought into being.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.If a first god sufficiently initiates contingent beings, their persistence conditions are already embedded in their created nature.
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    • 2.Positing multiple necessary conditions for the same effect violates parsimony unless causal roles are demonstrably distinct.
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    • 3.A being sufficient to create ex nihilo possesses power to sustain; denying this requires unexplained asymmetry in divine capability.
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    Key Terms

    contingent beings(Modal metaphysics)
    Beings whose existence is not necessary — they exist but could have failed to exist
    initiation(as used in this philosophical statement)
    The beginning or starting point of something's existence.
    necessary condition(Counterfactual analysis of causation; Mackie 1965, 1974)
    A condition C is necessary for event E if E would not have occurred in the absence of C
    persistence(Weyl's distinction between two kinds of constancy)
    Constancy maintained because a quantity is isolated and undisturbed, as opposed to actively adjusted
    sufficient condition(Used in the context of whether intrinsic properties can define species membership)
    A property whose presence guarantees membership in or applicability of a category, such that having the property entails belonging to the species or class

    Connections

    2 topics

    Against an aspect of God1 linkedDivine Attributes1 linked

    Related

    A being sufficient to create ex nihilo possesses power to sustain; denying this ...A first cause need not possess all perfections; a second agent could specialize ...A second god cannot be a necessary condition of the existence of at least one co...Contingent beings require continuous causal support against non-existence, not m...
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    Existence and persistence are metaphysically distinct: initiation requires diffe...If a first god sufficiently initiates contingent beings, their persistence condi...

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit
    Positing multiple necessary conditions for the same effect violates parsimony un...