<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>I offer a new, limited solution to divine hiddenness based on a particular epistemic paradox: sometimes, agents knowing about a desired outcome or relevant features of that desired outcome would prevent the outcome in question from occurring. I call these cases <italic>epistemically self-defeating situations.</italic> This solution, in essence, says that divine hiddenness or silence is a <italic>necessary feature</italic> of at least some morally excellent or desirable states of affairs. Given the nature of the paradox, an omniscient being cannot completely eliminate hiddenness, just as an omnipotent being cannot create a rock so heavy that they cannot lift it. Epistemically self-defeating situations provide an undercutting defeater for the assumption that any nonresistant nonbeliever could <italic>always</italic>, at any time, be in conscious relationship with a perfectly loving God. Thankfully, silence is a temporary feature of epistemically self-defeating situations: once the outcome is achieved, agents can know in full.</p>
</abstract>

I offer a new, limited solution to divine hiddenness based on a particular epistemic paradox: sometimes, agents knowing about a desired outcome or relevant features of that desired outcome would prevent the outcome in question from occurring. I call these cases epistemically self-defeating situations. This solution, in essence, says that divine hiddenness or silence is a necessary feature of at least some morally excellent or desirable states of affairs. Given the nature of the paradox, an omniscient being cannot completely eliminate hiddenness, just as an omnipotent being cannot create a rock so heavy that they cannot lift it. Epistemically self-defeating situations provide an undercutting defeater for the assumption that any nonresistant nonbeliever could always, at any time, be in conscious relationship with a perfectly loving God. Thankfully, silence is a temporary feature of epistemically self-defeating situations: once the outcome is achieved, agents can know in full.

Epistemic Paradox as a Solution to Divine Hiddenness

Perichoresis

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{"article-title":"Epistemic Paradox as a Solution to Divine Hiddenness"}

I offer a new, limited solution to divine hiddenness based on a particular epistemic paradox: sometimes, agents knowing about a desired outcome or relevant...

Epistemic Paradox as a Solution to Divine Hiddenness

Publicado en línea: 24 nov 2023

Páginas: 86 - 100

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2023-0033

Palabras clave
Divine hiddenness, Epistemic Paradox, Self-Defeat Nonresistant Nombelief, Moral Excellence, Organic Unity

© 2023 Amy Seymour, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Epistemic Paradox as a Solution to Divine Hiddenness

Publicado en línea: 24 nov 2023

Páginas: 86 - 100

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2023-0033

Palabras claveDivine hiddenness, Epistemic Paradox, Self-Defeat Nonresistant Nombelief, Moral Excellence, Organic Unity

© 2023 Amy Seymour, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
Divine hiddenness, Epistemic Paradox, Self-Defeat Nonresistant Nombelief, Moral Excellence, Organic Unity