Omnipotence and other possibilities

Religious Studies 48 (4):425 - 443 (2012)
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Abstract

The notion of omnipotence has proved to be quite recalcitrant to analysis. Still, during the last three decades or so, there has resurfaced a clever argument to the effect that, whatever omnipotence is, it cannot be exemplified in God: an allegedly impeccable and all-perfect being. Scrutinizing this argument, however, I find it less than convincing. Moreover, and more importantly, I venture a positive account of my own: a non-technical and distinctively metaphysical definition of omnipotence which, if true, sidesteps quite a number of well-known pitfalls. Also, by way of introduction, I review some earlier attempts

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Citations of this work

Theism and Secular Modality.Noah Gordon - 2023 - Dissertation, University of Southern California
A New Paradox of Omnipotence.Sarah Adams - 2015 - Philosophia 43 (3):759-785.
God, Über-God, and Unter-God.Noah Gordon - 2024 - Religious Studies 60 (4):564 - 579.
Whatever it is better to be than not to be.Martin Lembke - 2013 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 74 (1):131-143.

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References found in this work

Reason and Morality.Adina Schwartz - 1979 - Philosophical Review 88 (4):654.
God and Other Minds.Alvin Plantinga - 1967 - Philosophy 44 (167):71-73.
Some puzzles concerning omnipotence.George I. Mavrodes - 1963 - Philosophical Review 72 (2):221-223.
A new defence of Anselmian theism.Yujin Nagasawa - 2008 - Philosophical Quarterly 58 (233):577-596.

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