The problem of definition, and self-defeating concepts
1. Omnipotence
Omnipotence is a self defeating concept. While the specifics of the definition maybe vary slightly, a common phrase that occurs, in reference to several dictionaries, is "all-powerful'.
The idea of 'all-powerful', the crux of the omnipotence concept, is self-defeating. If something is all powerful, then it encompasses everything, including the logically impossible and the fallacious, and the contradictory. An all-powerful God, would then, be able to, for example, create a square circle. Illogical? Yes. Applied to God, it means that there are no limits whatsoever. An omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God simply cannot have any sort of limitations, else it would be in direct contradiction to his given attributes.
A more likely explanation would be that God is NOT all-powerful, but powerful within logical limits. In other words, he would still be subject to limitations, but within those limitations, he can do anything.
2. The definition of the God concept
When confronted with a logical refutation of the nature of God, or of the God concept itself, or maybe simply uncomfortable questions, some theists tend to resort to the cop-out answer of 'well, you can't analyse God using mere human logic. He's supernatural.'
I question then, isn't defining something as beyond logical understanding, winning by definition? I'll illustrate the problem of this definition with a simple analogy.
I define Santa Claus as a magic man beyond human understanding. Now, refute the hypothesis that Santa exists. I could save you lots of time, by telling you that any possible refutations, regardless of how logical, could be rebutted with a simple 'Well, he's magical. You can't understand magic.'
This sort of rebuttals are not based on logic. And they are pointless, because they do not answer any questions or give any answers. It is simply the most convenient way to get out of answering a question.
Omnipotence is a self defeating concept. While the specifics of the definition maybe vary slightly, a common phrase that occurs, in reference to several dictionaries, is "all-powerful'.
The idea of 'all-powerful', the crux of the omnipotence concept, is self-defeating. If something is all powerful, then it encompasses everything, including the logically impossible and the fallacious, and the contradictory. An all-powerful God, would then, be able to, for example, create a square circle. Illogical? Yes. Applied to God, it means that there are no limits whatsoever. An omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God simply cannot have any sort of limitations, else it would be in direct contradiction to his given attributes.
A more likely explanation would be that God is NOT all-powerful, but powerful within logical limits. In other words, he would still be subject to limitations, but within those limitations, he can do anything.
2. The definition of the God concept
When confronted with a logical refutation of the nature of God, or of the God concept itself, or maybe simply uncomfortable questions, some theists tend to resort to the cop-out answer of 'well, you can't analyse God using mere human logic. He's supernatural.'
I question then, isn't defining something as beyond logical understanding, winning by definition? I'll illustrate the problem of this definition with a simple analogy.
I define Santa Claus as a magic man beyond human understanding. Now, refute the hypothesis that Santa exists. I could save you lots of time, by telling you that any possible refutations, regardless of how logical, could be rebutted with a simple 'Well, he's magical. You can't understand magic.'
This sort of rebuttals are not based on logic. And they are pointless, because they do not answer any questions or give any answers. It is simply the most convenient way to get out of answering a question.
posted by benisonp at 6:07 AM
0 comments
