Possible world: a manner/state in which the actual world could have been. The set of propositions that are or would be true in each possible world. Thus W1 will be an expression of the set of all propositions (N) that are true IF W1 was the actual world (N1, N2, N3, N4,… Nx.)
Let me give a quick argument on why I think that any and all orthodox conception of God as an omnimax being who is the Creator of the actual world will necessarily entail, at minimim, soft determinism.
God created/actualized (either weakly or strongly) the actual world (W1). In actualizing W1, God has created/actualized all propositions that are true which are labeled, as a set, “W1.”
Let N666 be some instance of evil that obtains in only W1. God, in creating/actualized W1, has determined that N666 will obtain and cannot fail to obtain. For if N666 failed to obtain, then W1 would no longer be W1 but some other world (W1939) where ~N666 would obtain. If this were the case, God would have intended to create W1 but would have failed to do so when W1939 obtains contrary to his intention. This would result in a God who is not omnipotent.
In addition, God, in actualizing/creating W1, at the moment of creation (T1), foreknew that N666 would obtain because he was intending to create W1. If ~N666 obtained, then God’s knowledge would be incorrect. Even if ~N666 did not obtain, but had a real metaphysical possibility to obtain, that would mean it would be possible for N666 to not obtain in the actual world. This means that God’s foreknowledge at T1 could possibly be wrong. If God’s foreknowledge could possibly be wrong, then God cannot know that he knows (since it would be precisely the thing that he would not know). This would result in a God who is not omniscient.
The only consistent way to maintain the orthodox view of God as the omnimax Creator, is to affirm that God has actualized/created W1 and in doing so has determined, unalterably, whatsoever comes to pass as true propositions in the W1 which have no metaphysically meaningful ability to fail to come to pass. As such, God has determined N1 through Nx that are true given his creation/actualizion of W1, as opposed to any other propositions in other possible worlds. This results in, at minimum, soft determinism.
Therefore, orthodox Christian conceptions of an omnimax being who is Creator of the world logically result in, at minimum, soft determinism.
Let me give a quick argument on why I think that any and all orthodox conception of God as an omnimax being who is the Creator of the actual world will necessarily entail, at minimim, soft determinism.
God created/actualized (either weakly or strongly) the actual world (W1). In actualizing W1, God has created/actualized all propositions that are true which are labeled, as a set, “W1.”
Let N666 be some instance of evil that obtains in only W1. God, in creating/actualized W1, has determined that N666 will obtain and cannot fail to obtain. For if N666 failed to obtain, then W1 would no longer be W1 but some other world (W1939) where ~N666 would obtain. If this were the case, God would have intended to create W1 but would have failed to do so when W1939 obtains contrary to his intention. This would result in a God who is not omnipotent.
In addition, God, in actualizing/creating W1, at the moment of creation (T1), foreknew that N666 would obtain because he was intending to create W1. If ~N666 obtained, then God’s knowledge would be incorrect. Even if ~N666 did not obtain, but had a real metaphysical possibility to obtain, that would mean it would be possible for N666 to not obtain in the actual world. This means that God’s foreknowledge at T1 could possibly be wrong. If God’s foreknowledge could possibly be wrong, then God cannot know that he knows (since it would be precisely the thing that he would not know). This would result in a God who is not omniscient.
The only consistent way to maintain the orthodox view of God as the omnimax Creator, is to affirm that God has actualized/created W1 and in doing so has determined, unalterably, whatsoever comes to pass as true propositions in the W1 which have no metaphysically meaningful ability to fail to come to pass. As such, God has determined N1 through Nx that are true given his creation/actualizion of W1, as opposed to any other propositions in other possible worlds. This results in, at minimum, soft determinism.
Therefore, orthodox Christian conceptions of an omnimax being who is Creator of the world logically result in, at minimum, soft determinism.
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