God's problem of multiple choice

Strickland, Lloyd (2006) God's problem of multiple choice. Religious studies, 42 (2). pp. 141-157. ISSN 1469-901X

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Abstract

A question that has been largely overlooked by philosophers of religion is how God would be able to effect a rational choice between two worlds of unsurpassable goodness. To answer this question, I draw a parallel with the paradigm cases of indifferent choice, including Buridan’s ass, and argue that such cases can be satisfactorily resolved provided that the protagonists employ what Otto Neurath calls an ‘auxiliary motive’. I supply rational grounds for the employment of such a motive, and then argue against the views of Leibniz and Nicholas Rescher to show that this solution would also work for God.

Item Type:	Article
Peer-reviewed:	No
Date Deposited:	30 Jan 2015 14:36
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Additional Information:	This paper appeared, subsequent to peer review and by Cambridge University Press, in Religious studies, 2006; vol 42 (no 2), pp. 141-157. © 2006 Cambridge University Press. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=425923&jid=RES&volumeId=42&issueId=02&aid=425922
Divisions:	Faculties > Arts and Humanities
URI:	https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/343994
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0034412506008249
ISSN	1469-901X

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