LessonsEternal Knowledge, Power, Life, Will and Their RelationsQuiz

Knowledge concerns what can be known, whether existent, future, or impossible. Power concerns what is possible to bring about. Calling an intrinsic contradiction “not an object of power” does not indicate weakness: contradictory words do not describe a genuine possible outcome.

For example, “the same object is wholly moving and wholly at rest in the same respect at the same time” is inconsistent. Not realizing a contradiction is no failure of power.

By contrast, creating or not creating a possible body falls within divine power. Knowledge's disclosure and power's relation to bringing about an event are not interchangeable notions.

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Why knowledge and power have different domains

Eternal Knowledge, Power, Life, Will and Their Relations

Knowledge concerns what can be known, whether existent, future, or impossible. Power concerns what is possible to bring about. Calling an intrinsic contradiction “not an object of power” does not indicate weakness: contradictory words do not describe a genuine possible outcome.

For example, “the same object is wholly moving and wholly at rest in the same respect at the same time” is inconsistent. Not realizing a contradiction is no failure of power.

By contrast, creating or not creating a possible body falls within divine power. Knowledge's disclosure and power's relation to bringing about an event are not interchangeable notions.