Freethought & Rationalism Archive

optimist · 07-23-2002, 11:54 AM

This was a fairly simple thought I had today: Wouldn't a God be plauged by the same skeptical problem as we are? He could always ask himself if there wasn't a more powerful God who was allowing him to think he was God.

AtlanticCitySlave · 07-23-2002, 12:12 PM

Nah, then he wouldn't be all-knowing.

optimist · 07-23-2002, 04:16 PM

You take it that since God is all-knowing, he must not be plagued by the skeptical problem. But we could go the reverse route and instead argue that the skeptical problem makes the concept of "all-knowing" logically impossible.

07-23-2002, 04:32 PM

Optimist,
Wel the two options are not mutually exclusive. An all knowing God may well be logically impossible but real.

99Percent · 07-23-2002, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Synaesthesia:
<strong>Optimist,
Wel the two options are not mutually exclusive. An all knowing God may well be logically impossible but real.</strong>

How can something be logically impossible and be real at the same time? At the very least its something not yet understood.

optimist · 07-23-2002, 04:44 PM

Synaesthesia, I agree that something might (not "can") be logically impossible and yet real. But 99Percent is correct to point out that "At the very least its something not yet understood." This itself is an example of the skeptical problem, for an evil genius can even be making us misunderstand math and logic. As Descartes pointed out, when I think 2 + 2 he might make my mind jump to the conclusion 4 even if it is incorrect. Perhaps the reason we cannot conceive a different answer to 2 + 2 is because he will not let us.

AtlanticCitySlave · 07-23-2002, 05:42 PM

If God was plagued by the "skeptical problem", he would, by definition, not be all-knowing. God is, by definition, all-knowing, so he can't, by definition, be plagued by the "skeptical problem". If the skeptical problem were used to argue against the existence of God (an atheistic argument), then so be it, but God cannot be troubled by the "skeptical problem" under his very nature.

07-23-2002, 11:54 AM	#1
optimist Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Depending on the week: Miami, Dallas, or Seattle Posts: 101	Does God have Descartes Skeptic Problem? This was a fairly simple thought I had today: Wouldn't a God be plauged by the same skeptical problem as we are? He could always ask himself if there wasn't a more powerful God who was allowing him to think he was God.

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07-23-2002, 12:12 PM	#2
AtlanticCitySlave Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 251	Nah, then he wouldn't be all-knowing.

07-23-2002, 04:16 PM	#3
optimist Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Depending on the week: Miami, Dallas, or Seattle Posts: 101	You take it that since God is all-knowing, he must not be plagued by the skeptical problem. But we could go the reverse route and instead argue that the skeptical problem makes the concept of "all-knowing" logically impossible.

07-23-2002, 04:32 PM	#4
Synaesthesia Guest Posts: n/a	Optimist, Wel the two options are not mutually exclusive. An all knowing God may well be logically impossible but real.

07-23-2002, 04:44 PM	#6
optimist Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Depending on the week: Miami, Dallas, or Seattle Posts: 101	Synaesthesia, I agree that something might (not "can") be logically impossible and yet real. But 99Percent is correct to point out that "At the very least its something not yet understood." This itself is an example of the skeptical problem, for an evil genius can even be making us misunderstand math and logic. As Descartes pointed out, when I think 2 + 2 he might make my mind jump to the conclusion 4 even if it is incorrect. Perhaps the reason we cannot conceive a different answer to 2 + 2 is because he will not let us.

07-23-2002, 05:42 PM	#7
AtlanticCitySlave Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 251	If God was plagued by the "skeptical problem", he would, by definition, not be all-knowing. God is, by definition, all-knowing, so he can't, by definition, be plagued by the "skeptical problem". If the skeptical problem were used to argue against the existence of God (an atheistic argument), then so be it, but God cannot be troubled by the "skeptical problem" under his very nature.

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