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

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Mar 25th, 4:00 PM Mar 25th, 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.