Overview
- Shows under what conditions an eternal entity can be omniscient in the presence of free agents
- Combines investigations into the metaphysics of time with the discipline of temporal logic
- Rigorously analyses the concepts of God's nature, the formal structure and metaphysics of time, and the relationship between temporal entities and an eternal God
Part of the book series: Palgrave Frontiers in Philosophy of Religion (PFPR)
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About this book
This book deals with an old conundrum: if God knows what we will choose tomorrow, how can we be free to choose otherwise? If all our choices are already written, is our freedom simply an illusion? This book provides a precise analysis of this dilemma using the tools of modern metaphysics and logic of time. With a focus on three intertwined concepts - God’s nature, the formal structure of time, and the metaphysics time, including the relationship between temporal entities and a timeless God - the chapters analyse various solutions to the problem of foreknowledge and freedom, revealing the advantages and drawbacks of each. Building on this analysis, the authors advance constructive solutions, showing under what conditions an entity can be omniscient in the presence of free agents, and whether an eternal entity can know the tensed futures of the world. The metaphysics of time, its topology and the semantics of future tensed sentences are shown to be invaluable topics in dealing with this issue.
Combining investigations into the metaphysics of time with the discipline of temporal logic this monograph brings about important advancements in the philosophical understanding of an ancient and fascinating problem. The answer, if any, is hidden in the folds of time, in the elusive nature of this feature of reality and in the infinite branching of our lives.
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Keywords
Table of contents (6 chapters)
Authors and Affiliations
About the authors
Ciro De Florio is Senior Researcher in Logic and Philosophy of Science at the Department of Philosophy, Catholic University of Milan, Italy
Aldo Frigerio is Associate Professor in Philosophy of Language at the Department of Philosophy, Catholic University of Milan, Italy
Aldo Frigerio is Associate Professor in Philosophy of Language at the Department of Philosophy, Catholic University of Milan, Italy
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Divine Omniscience and Human Free Will
Book Subtitle: A Logical and Metaphysical Analysis
Authors: Ciro De Florio, Aldo Frigerio
Series Title: Palgrave Frontiers in Philosophy of Religion
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31300-5
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2019
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-31299-2Published: 26 November 2019
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-31302-9Published: 26 November 2020
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-31300-5Published: 14 November 2019
Series ISSN: 2634-6176
Series E-ISSN: 2634-6184
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XV, 268
Number of Illustrations: 16 b/w illustrations
Topics: Philosophy of Religion, Metaphysics, Logic