Wednesday, March 20, 2019

God and the B-theory of time

  1. All reality is such that it can be known perfectly from the point of view of God.

  2. The point of view of God is eternal and timeless.

  3. Thus, all reality is such that it can be known perfectly from an eternal and timeless point of view.

  4. If all reality is such that it can be known perfectly from an eternal and timeless point of view, then the B-theory of time is true.

  5. So, the B-theory of time is true.

I am not sure of premise (4), however.

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4 comments:

  1. UnknownMarch 20, 2019 at 10:58 PM

    Hello Dr. Pruss,

    Will you be attending the 2019 SCP Mountain Pacific Meeting in Las Vegas at the beginning of April? I am a high school student who submitted a paper and I will be giving a presentation at the conference. I was wondering if I would get the privilege of meeting one of my favorite philosophers in person!

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alexander R PrussMarch 21, 2019 at 8:20 AM

      Sorry, no. I've had too much travel this term. Congratulations on your paper. Maybe we can meet some other time.

      Delete
  2. Walter Van den AckerMarch 21, 2019 at 1:04 AM

    Alex

    Premise (1) is compatible with absolute determinism or with molinism, so (4) doesn't follow.

    ReplyDelete
  3. James TaylorMarch 21, 2019 at 10:28 PM

    This was perfectly timed.

    I've been wondering how best to respond to an atheist online who has some serious beefs with classical theology, essentially saying that, if the B-theory of time is true and given a God who cannot change, theism is both incoherent and unnecessary. I gather what he means is that the universe can explain itself and a God who cannot change also cannot make decisions or act.

    It seems to me that the second objection (God being causally inert) is just wrong-headed if God is Pure Act, and wills and creates in a single timeless act. As for the B-Theory objection, I think that Thomism and other schools of thought do a fine job of engaging the case of an eternal universe in which God creates, but I'm not a philosopher.

    There are no doubt far more sophisticated answers. Would you mind directing me to some good resources in engaging with objections like those? It's not always easy to find specific enough answers.

    ReplyDelete