podcast 208 – Natalja Deng – Eternity

Dr. Natalja Deng is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Underwood International College, Yonsei University, Seoul/Incheon, South Korea.

In this talk she presents a portion of a paper in progress on God and time. Dr. Deng first discusses and criticizes recent work on clashing views about divine eternity and God’s life, focusing on Stump and Kretzmann, Leftow, Padgett, and McTaggart.

She also discusses this argument for divine temporality, put forth by some who believe in objectively dynamic or “flowing” time (proponents of what are called “A-theories” of time).

God is omniscient.
If God is omniscient, then God knows the fundamental temporal facts.
God knows the fundamental temporal facts. (1,2)
If there are fundamental tensed facts (i.e. if an A-theory of time is true), then God knows them.
If God knows fundamental tensed facts, then what God knows changes.
If what God knows changes, then God changes.
If God changes then God is temporal.
If an A-theory of time is true, then God is temporal. (4-7)
An A-theory of time is true.
God is temporal. (8,9)

In my view, this is a sound argument. But as she explains, some, disliking the conclusion (and perhaps A-theories as well), will simply deny 9. She also discusses a a similar argument which might be endorsed by non-A-theorists, and whether simply being personal implies that God is temporal.

Links for this episode: