God and the Problem of Logic

Description

Classical theists hold that God is omnipotent. But now suppose a critical atheologian were to ask: Can God create a stone so heavy that even he cannot lift it? This is the dilemma of the stone paradox. God either can or cannot create such a stone. Suppose that God can create it. Then there's something he cannot do – namely, lift the stone. Suppose that God cannot create the stone. Then, again, there's something he cannot do – namely, create it. Either way, God cannot be omnipotent. Among the variety of known theological paradoxes, the paradox of the stone is especially troubling because of its logical purity. It purports to show that one cannot believe in both God and the laws of logic. In the face of the stone paradox, how should the contemporary analytic theist respond? Ought they to revise their belief in theology or their belief in logic? Ought they to lose their religion or lose their mind? Cover Title page Copyright page God and the Problem of Logic Contents 1 God’s Stone Problem Basic Beliefs: Logic and Theology Rational Paradox Resolution Theological Paradoxes The Stone Paradox (Informal Presentation) “Can Do” Logic Failures of Sense and Reference Contingent Omnipotence McTaggartism and Cusanism The Stone Paradox (Formal Presentation) 2 The Thomistic Solution Limits Even on the Power of God Absolute Impossibility Ability and Liability Making What’s Done Undone The Case of Mr. McEar A Divine Tug-of-War 3 The Cartesian Solution No Limits on the Power of God Polypossibilist Modality Sub Precepto Divino Power Beyond Possibility Nonnormal Impossible Worlds Necessary Omnipotence God-Talk: The Way of Paradox Creeping Contradictions References Acknowledgments