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To explain the eight conceptions of a personal god combining omniscience, omnipotence, and goodness, we can break down these three attributes into binary values. Each attribute can either be present or absent, creating a total of 23=82^3 = 823=8 different possible combinations.
Step 1: Define the Attributes
We have three attributes:
- Omniscience (S): The god knows everything. S=1S = 1S=1 means omniscient, S=0S = 0S=0 means not omniscient.
- Omnipotence (P): The god is all-powerful. P=1P = 1P=1 means omnipotent, P=0P = 0P=0 means not omnipotent.
- Goodness (G): The god is perfectly good. G=1G = 1G=1 means good, G=0G = 0G=0 means not good.
Each combination of these attributes can represent a different conception of a personal god.
Step 2: Matrix Representation
We can represent the possible combinations in a matrix form, where the rows correspond to each of the 8 combinations of the attributes. The three columns correspond to omniscience (S), omnipotence (P), and goodness (G).
| # | Omniscience (S) | Omnipotence (P) | Goodness (G) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Step 3: Explanation of Each Combination
- S = 0, P = 0, G = 0: A god who neither knows everything, nor is all-powerful, nor is good. This would be more like a non-intervening deity or a limited god.
- S = 0, P = 0, G = 1: A god who is not omniscient, not omnipotent, but is good. This could represent a limited deity who is morally good but lacks the ability to influence the world.
- S = 0, P = 1, G = 0: A god who is not omniscient but is all-powerful, yet not good. This could be a deity with the power to act but who does so in a morally neutral or malevolent way.
- S = 0, P = 1, G = 1: A god who is all-powerful and good, but not omniscient. This could be a god who can do anything and is morally good but lacks complete knowledge.
- S = 1, P = 0, G = 0: A god who is omniscient but not omnipotent or good. This could be a god who knows everything but is powerless or indifferent to act, or perhaps morally neutral.
- S = 1, P = 0, G = 1: A god who is omniscient and good but not omnipotent. This could be a deity who knows everything and is good but is unable to act on that knowledge.
- S = 1, P = 1, G = 0: A god who is both omniscient and omnipotent but not good. This is often a concept of a god who has ultimate power and knowledge but does not necessarily care about moral goodness. This could be a god with the ability to act and know but without moral concern.
- S = 1, P = 1, G = 1: A god who is omniscient, omnipotent, and good. This represents a perfect god in classical theism, often seen in the Abrahamic traditions: all-knowing, all-powerful, and perfectly good.
Step 4: Further Discussion
These combinations can help explore theological ideas and debates. For example, some argue that omnipotence and goodness can be in tension with each other (i.e., why doesn’t an omnipotent and good god stop evil?), or that omniscience might conflict with human free will.
The matrix shows how different theologies can emphasize different attributes, leading to a wide range of divine conceptions. Would you like to dive deeper into any specific combination or its implications?