231k views
2 votes
Does the trichotomy of empty solutions, trivial solutions, and nontrivial solutions hold universally for all types of problems, and could the concept of hypertriviality be fitting when considering answers to questions about the existence of God, particularly in the context of divine simplicity?

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

The concept of trichotomy does not apply universally to problems such as the existence of God and the concept of divine simplicity. The philosophical discourse around these topics is more complex than simply classifying solutions and often involves deep analysis and interpretation of the nature of a Supreme Being and the presence of moral evil.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept of trichotomy, which in mathematics refers to the classification of solutions, doesn't universally apply to other types of problems, such as theological or philosophical questions. Specifically, when discussing the existence of God and the concept of divine simplicity, trichotomy is not entirely fitting. The discussion around divine simplicity and the existence of evil, or theodicy, involves complex and nuanced arguments that cannot be neatly categorized as empty, trivial, or nontrivial solutions.

Philosophical arguments about God's existence delve into deep questions regarding the nature of a Supreme Being and the presence of evil in the world. These questions consider whether traditional attributes assigned to a deity, such as omnipotence, omniscience, and omnibenevolence can coexist with the reality of moral evil. Attempts to resolve these issues include: theodicy, which tries to reconcile the existence of an all-perfect deity with evil; Process Theology, which changes the concept of deity; and atheism, which dismisses the deity to remove the contradiction.

Overall, in philosophical and theological contexts, hypertriviality does not add clarity to the discourse on whether an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent deity could permit the existence of evil. The discussions tend to focus on attempting to find a consistent explanation (option 3), acknowledging that many thinkers over millennia believe such an explanation may not be possible.

User Matthew Story
by
8.4k points