Deliberation and Divine Foreknowledge
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Keywords
deliberation, foreknowledge, God, divine, philosophy, value
Department
Philosophy
Major
Philosophy
Abstract
This paper discusses the implications of divine foreknowledge for an agent’s ability to deliberate about their actions. If a divine being has knowledge of the choices that an agent will make, and the outcomes that will arise from those choices, the act of deliberation could be viewed as fruitless. I attempt to resolve the conflict between these two subjects, and to show that deliberation is compatible with divine foreknowledge. I examine an adapted argument for theological fatalism, which attempts to show divine foreknowledge and deliberation to be incompatible, and analyze the facets of that argument, before explaining its failure. In support of the compatibility between divine foreknowledge and deliberation, I assert that an agent’s deliberation has value, regardless of whether or not the outcome of future events is foreseen by God. I provide support for my belief that the value of the act of deliberation is not nullified if the outcome is foreseen.
Faculty Mentor
Garrett Pendergraft
Funding Source or Research Program
Academic Year Undergraduate Research Initiative, Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Presentation Session
Session C
Location
Black Family Plaza Classroom 190
Start Date
25-3-2022 4:00 PM
End Date
25-3-2022 4:15 PM
Deliberation and Divine Foreknowledge
Black Family Plaza Classroom 190
This paper discusses the implications of divine foreknowledge for an agent’s ability to deliberate about their actions. If a divine being has knowledge of the choices that an agent will make, and the outcomes that will arise from those choices, the act of deliberation could be viewed as fruitless. I attempt to resolve the conflict between these two subjects, and to show that deliberation is compatible with divine foreknowledge. I examine an adapted argument for theological fatalism, which attempts to show divine foreknowledge and deliberation to be incompatible, and analyze the facets of that argument, before explaining its failure. In support of the compatibility between divine foreknowledge and deliberation, I assert that an agent’s deliberation has value, regardless of whether or not the outcome of future events is foreseen by God. I provide support for my belief that the value of the act of deliberation is not nullified if the outcome is foreseen.