LessonsThe Universality of Divine Knowledge and Power: Classical ObjectionsQuiz

A change in an external event need not constitute an intrinsic change in knowledge. If the different temporal states are already known as such, the later state's occurring does not make the knower newly informed after ignorance.

Change of object: Zayd moves.
Change of relation: what is true of the object at a given time differs.
Change in knowledge itself: an intrinsic alteration in the attribute—something not entailed by the first two.

This distinction reconciles comprehensive knowledge of particulars with divine immutability in the classical account.

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Change in the object versus change in knowledge

The Universality of Divine Knowledge and Power: Classical Objections

A change in an external event need not constitute an intrinsic change in knowledge. If the different temporal states are already known as such, the later state's occurring does not make the knower newly informed after ignorance.

Change of object: Zayd moves.
Change of relation: what is true of the object at a given time differs.
Change in knowledge itself: an intrinsic alteration in the attribute—something not entailed by the first two.

This distinction reconciles comprehensive knowledge of particulars with divine immutability in the classical account.