Arguments from the Problem of Divine Simplicity

Description: Arguments from the Problem of Divine Simplicity
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: philosophy philosophy of religion divine simplicity
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What is the central idea behind the problem of divine simplicity?

  1. God is a complex being with multiple attributes.

  2. God is a simple being without any attributes.

  3. God is a being whose attributes are distinct from his essence.

  4. God is a being whose essence is identical to his attributes.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The problem of divine simplicity arises from the idea that God is a simple being, meaning that he has no parts or attributes. This raises questions about how God can be both simple and yet possess the various attributes that are traditionally ascribed to him, such as omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence.

Which philosopher is most closely associated with the problem of divine simplicity?

  1. Thomas Aquinas

  2. Duns Scotus

  3. William of Ockham

  4. John Duns Scotus


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

John Duns Scotus, a 13th-century Franciscan philosopher, is widely regarded as the philosopher who most thoroughly developed the problem of divine simplicity. He argued that God is a simple being who is completely devoid of any attributes, including those that are traditionally ascribed to him, such as omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence.

What is the main argument against the problem of divine simplicity?

  1. God's simplicity is incompatible with his omnipotence.

  2. God's simplicity is incompatible with his omniscience.

  3. God's simplicity is incompatible with his omnibenevolence.

  4. God's simplicity is incompatible with his existence.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One of the main arguments against the problem of divine simplicity is that it is incompatible with God's omnipotence. If God is a simple being, then he cannot have any attributes, including the attribute of omnipotence. This means that God would not be able to do anything, which contradicts the idea that he is all-powerful.

What is the main response to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omnipotence?

  1. God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes.

  2. God's simplicity means that he has only one attribute.

  3. God's simplicity means that he has an infinite number of attributes.

  4. God's simplicity means that he has no attributes.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One of the main responses to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omnipotence is that God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes. Rather, it means that he has no attributes that are distinct from his essence. This means that God's attributes are not something that he possesses in addition to his essence, but rather are simply different ways of describing his essence.

What is the main argument against the problem of divine simplicity based on God's omniscience?

  1. God's omniscience is incompatible with his simplicity.

  2. God's omniscience is incompatible with his omnipotence.

  3. God's omniscience is incompatible with his omnibenevolence.

  4. God's omniscience is incompatible with his existence.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One of the main arguments against the problem of divine simplicity based on God's omniscience is that it is incompatible with his simplicity. If God is a simple being, then he cannot have any attributes, including the attribute of omniscience. This means that God would not be able to know everything, which contradicts the idea that he is all-knowing.

What is the main response to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omniscience?

  1. God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes.

  2. God's simplicity means that he has only one attribute.

  3. God's simplicity means that he has an infinite number of attributes.

  4. God's simplicity means that he has no attributes.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One of the main responses to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omniscience is that God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes. Rather, it means that he has no attributes that are distinct from his essence. This means that God's attributes are not something that he possesses in addition to his essence, but rather are simply different ways of describing his essence.

What is the main argument against the problem of divine simplicity based on God's omnibenevolence?

  1. God's omnibenevolence is incompatible with his simplicity.

  2. God's omnibenevolence is incompatible with his omnipotence.

  3. God's omnibenevolence is incompatible with his omniscience.

  4. God's omnibenevolence is incompatible with his existence.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One of the main arguments against the problem of divine simplicity based on God's omnibenevolence is that it is incompatible with his simplicity. If God is a simple being, then he cannot have any attributes, including the attribute of omnibenevolence. This means that God would not be able to love or care for his creatures, which contradicts the idea that he is all-loving.

What is the main response to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omnibenevolence?

  1. God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes.

  2. God's simplicity means that he has only one attribute.

  3. God's simplicity means that he has an infinite number of attributes.

  4. God's simplicity means that he has no attributes.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One of the main responses to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omnibenevolence is that God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes. Rather, it means that he has no attributes that are distinct from his essence. This means that God's attributes are not something that he possesses in addition to his essence, but rather are simply different ways of describing his essence.

What is the main argument against the problem of divine simplicity based on God's existence?

  1. God's existence is incompatible with his simplicity.

  2. God's existence is incompatible with his omnipotence.

  3. God's existence is incompatible with his omniscience.

  4. God's existence is incompatible with his omnibenevolence.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One of the main arguments against the problem of divine simplicity based on God's existence is that it is incompatible with his simplicity. If God is a simple being, then he cannot have any attributes, including the attribute of existence. This means that God would not exist, which contradicts the idea that he is.

What is the main response to the argument that God's existence is incompatible with his simplicity?

  1. God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes.

  2. God's simplicity means that he has only one attribute.

  3. God's simplicity means that he has an infinite number of attributes.

  4. God's simplicity means that he has no attributes.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One of the main responses to the argument that God's existence is incompatible with his simplicity is that God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes. Rather, it means that he has no attributes that are distinct from his essence. This means that God's attributes are not something that he possesses in addition to his essence, but rather are simply different ways of describing his essence.

Which of the following is not a traditional attribute of God?

  1. Omnipotence

  2. Omniscience

  3. Omnibenevolence

  4. Simplicity


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Simplicity is not a traditional attribute of God. The traditional attributes of God are omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence.

Which of the following philosophers argued that God's simplicity entails that he has no attributes?

  1. Thomas Aquinas

  2. Duns Scotus

  3. William of Ockham

  4. John Duns Scotus


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

John Duns Scotus argued that God's simplicity entails that he has no attributes.

Which of the following is a response to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omnipotence?

  1. God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes.

  2. God's simplicity means that he has only one attribute.

  3. God's simplicity means that he has an infinite number of attributes.

  4. God's simplicity means that he has no attributes.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One response to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omnipotence is that God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes.

Which of the following is a response to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omniscience?

  1. God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes.

  2. God's simplicity means that he has only one attribute.

  3. God's simplicity means that he has an infinite number of attributes.

  4. God's simplicity means that he has no attributes.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One response to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omniscience is that God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes.

Which of the following is a response to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omnibenevolence?

  1. God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes.

  2. God's simplicity means that he has only one attribute.

  3. God's simplicity means that he has an infinite number of attributes.

  4. God's simplicity means that he has no attributes.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

One response to the argument that God's simplicity is incompatible with his omnibenevolence is that God's simplicity does not mean that he lacks attributes.

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