LessonsEternal Knowledge, Power, Life, Will and Their RelationsQuiz

Objection: if divine knowledge eternally determines what will occur, why affirm a separate attribute of will?

The reply assigns disclosure to knowledge and specification to will. Knowledge concerns what is the case, while will is related to the particular occurrence of a possible state. This distinction does not make the attributes independent gods.

One may distinguish a craftsperson's knowing how a task will be done from choosing a particular task. That human example only illustrates two meanings; it does not imply that divine knowing and willing involve human indecision, tools, or the acquisition of capacities.

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Knowing an outcome versus willing it

Eternal Knowledge, Power, Life, Will and Their Relations

Objection: if divine knowledge eternally determines what will occur, why affirm a separate attribute of will?

The reply assigns disclosure to knowledge and specification to will. Knowledge concerns what is the case, while will is related to the particular occurrence of a possible state. This distinction does not make the attributes independent gods.

One may distinguish a craftsperson's knowing how a task will be done from choosing a particular task. That human example only illustrates two meanings; it does not imply that divine knowing and willing involve human indecision, tools, or the acquisition of capacities.