As far as I can tell the popular Einsteinian understanding of the universe as a four dimensional block (as opposed to a Newtonian understanding which holds space as absolute, the universe as three dimensional, and time as not being a fourth dimension) does not pose a special fatalist problem (with certain qualification that I won't get into). A fatalist problem arises even if one thinks of the universe along Newtonian lines. Here is a general fatalist argument involving a timeless God which makes no claims about whether the universe is a 4-D block or (only) a collection of 3-D objects (I'm taking the basic framework for Linda Zagzebski's book on the philosophy of religion):
![Tullius est [et Tullius non est Cicero]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDG4xhsMn9o9J6nFVbJuaWEgUYVbxr7B9gbOXGZ3gwOu55lJg3q0Ev-z3MhLy29603_fkvvngkYmsTvRd4BATcVzZvVOhgkPSy-GIAuaFE0sCVBc_zcTW_d2mKKeCWhMxsZhAPyqXzymO/s1600/cicero-right-1024x603.jpg)
Unlike my ancient predecessor, this Tullius hasn't had his hands chopped off. With hands attached I offer my thoughts on philosophy, religion, politics, and whatever else I find worth mentioning. I'm conservative religiously and politically (with libertarian leanings). I value reason and freedom but also traditions and "Oldthink." I relish being on the wrong side of history when history is wrong--part of a philosopher's job is to be unpopular. (Views given here may not represent my employers')
Showing posts with label fatalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fatalism. Show all posts
Friday, August 29, 2014
If God is Outside of Time and Sees Every Event, Are Any Human Actions Free?
A colleague asks, "If God is outside of time, then does the current physics model
mean that there is an "Elect" because God can see the whole 4-D
picture?"
As far as I can tell the popular Einsteinian understanding of the universe as a four dimensional block (as opposed to a Newtonian understanding which holds space as absolute, the universe as three dimensional, and time as not being a fourth dimension) does not pose a special fatalist problem (with certain qualification that I won't get into). A fatalist problem arises even if one thinks of the universe along Newtonian lines. Here is a general fatalist argument involving a timeless God which makes no claims about whether the universe is a 4-D block or (only) a collection of 3-D objects (I'm taking the basic framework for Linda Zagzebski's book on the philosophy of religion):
As far as I can tell the popular Einsteinian understanding of the universe as a four dimensional block (as opposed to a Newtonian understanding which holds space as absolute, the universe as three dimensional, and time as not being a fourth dimension) does not pose a special fatalist problem (with certain qualification that I won't get into). A fatalist problem arises even if one thinks of the universe along Newtonian lines. Here is a general fatalist argument involving a timeless God which makes no claims about whether the universe is a 4-D block or (only) a collection of 3-D objects (I'm taking the basic framework for Linda Zagzebski's book on the philosophy of religion):
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)