Topics Freedom

Question I've heard many arguments concerning whether or not free will is compatible with an omniscient god, but none concerning the omnipotence of god. Doesn't absolute power necessarily negate the power of all other things, including the freedom of will?

Accepted:
November 8, 2005

Comments

I don't think it does. I have the power to determine which toy my child will play with, say because I could remove all but one from the playpen, but I decide to leave lots of toys there and let my child choose. Having power doesn't mean excercising it, and if I hold back in this way I seem to allow for free will.

The philosopher Harry Frankfurt has argued for an even stronger claim. Suppose that there is a powerful demon who has a plan for me, but waits to see what I choose and will only interfere if my choices goes against his plan. In the event, everything I choose happens to fit with his plan, so he never interferes. Frankfurt claims that here I am excercising my free will, even though it is false that I could have behaved differently. What counts is the absence of interference, not the absence of the power to interfere.

Question I've heard many arguments concerning whether or not free will is compatible with an omniscient god, but none concerning the omnipotence of god. Doesn't absolute power necessarily negate the power of all other things, including the freedom of will? Accepted:November 8, 2005

Question I've heard many arguments concerning whether or not free will is compatible with an omniscient god, but none concerning the omnipotence of god. Doesn't absolute power necessarily negate the power of all other things, including the freedom of will?

Accepted:
November 8, 2005