Topics Religion

Question Can an omnipotent being truly want? Larry 16, New Jersey.

Accepted:
November 15, 2007

Comments

I think so. Just because one has unlimited ability to serve one's desires does not mean that one has no desires to serve. Moreover, omnipotence alone would not make one able to discern how best to go about what pursuing what one wants.

Here's another way to think about it: Surely an omnipotent being can do whatever is logically possible, and that obviously includes at least what you or I can do. You and I can experience wanting, desire. Hence, an omnipotent being can also do this--and a great deal more in addition!

It's an interesting question. I'd just add this bit to what Nicholas had to say. Let's take the God of classical theism as our example. Assuming God exists, there are some things God might want, and yet can't simply bring about. God might want there to be creatures who freely love him (pardon the gendered pronoun) as much as he loves them. Now an omnipotent God can certainly make creatures who love him, but that's not the same as making creatures who freely love him. Put another way, God might want there to be creatures who love him, but weren't guaranteed to do so. In fact, many believers think that something like this is so. They would say that God has the power to make free creatures, but that if he wants them to love him freely, he can't guarantee, even in his omnipotence, that his desire will be satisfied.

Question Can an omnipotent being truly want? Larry 16, New Jersey. Accepted:November 15, 2007

Question Can an omnipotent being truly want? Larry 16, New Jersey.

Accepted:
November 15, 2007