parresia

Boethius: first pass at a

Boethius: first pass at a Christian response to the theological determinism problem

the theological problem restated for clarity's sake

It seems much too conflicting and contradictory that God foreknows all things and that there is any free will. For if God foresees all and cannot be in any way be mistaken, then that must necessarily happen which in his providence he foresees will be. And therefore if he foreknows from all eternity not only the deeds of human beings but even their plans and desires, there will be no free will.

So, according to Boethius, God, being outside of time (atemporal) and being omniscient (all knowing) and having foreknowledge of all things, is able to see everything that has happened (past), is happening (present), and will happen (future) simultaneously as if it all were taking place right now. According to Boethius, there is no past, nor future for God, but all is present: all is immeidiately before the mind of God (the eye of God), and in this ever-present knowledge Boethius claims is the answer to the appearant difficulty of theological determinism.

So how does God's "present" knowledge fix the problem? Basically the idea is this. Since God is outside of time, He is able to see what shoes I will wear tomorrow (he sees it even as I currently see what color shirt I'm currently wearing) and at the same time I can freely choose to wear whichever shoes I want, but God already knows it. In other words, God knows with certainty those things that are uncertain. "God knows with certainty those things that are uncertain"? Are we talking nonsense? Not so fast. Boethius' view can make sense if you accept the idea that time is merely an illusion. In the Boethian model, time doesn't exist: there was no yesterday, no 1000 years ago, nothing, all is already accomplished in the mind of God. Therefore, our human perception of time is merely that, a "perception" not a reality. Therefore, according to Boethius, to place God as having known "before hand" is only a partial truth. God knows all instantaneously, and all is accomplished NOW, and has been being accomplished NOW forever. So, once again, when I choose what color speedo to wear at the beach, I can freely choose any color I want. God knows what color I "will" choose, but his knowledge is knowledge NOW, not in the past (for there is no past for God, nor for us; we merely think there is a past).

Obviously, there seem to be some problems with Boethius' view. I will delve into those issues later, but first I just wanted to get some of the Christian views on the table, from there I can begin to pick at some of them to decide which seems to be the most promising, or which pieces from which views seem most promising.

So, one more time for clarity's sake: Boethius claims that our actions are not determined by God's foreknowledge because God's "foreknowledge" is such that it is immediate and constant, and time is an illusion. Our actions are free, and we are responsible for our actions, AND God knows ALL that has happened, is happening, and will happen. Clear? Don't worry it shouldn't be completely clear, that's part of the point.

Let me leave you with Boethius' own words:

"There remains also as an observer from on high foreknowing all things, God, and the always present eternity of his sight runs along with the future quality of our actions dispensing rewards for the good and punishments for the wicked. Nor vainly are our hopes placed in God, nor our prayers, which when they are right, cannot be ineffectual. Turn away then from vices, cultivate virtues, lift up your mind to righteous hopes, offer up humble prayers to heaven. A great necessity is solemnly ordained for you if you do not want to deceive yourselves, to do good, when you act before the eyes of a judge who sees all things."

Godspeed mercy and wisdom to us all.