Can "He" switch these? EZPZ.
I don't think readers of this website will have any trouble with the implications of this week's thought experiment, but they may enjoy having it at their disposal once it's explained.
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And the Lord spake unto the philosopher, "I am the Lord thy God, and I am all-powerful. There is nothing that you can say that can't be done. It's easy!"
And the philosopher spake unto the Lord, "OK, your mightiness. Turn everything that is blue red and everything that is red blue."
The Lord spake, "Let there be colour inversion!" And there was colour inversion, much to the confusion of the flag bearers of Poland and San Marino.
And the philosopher then spake unto the Lord, "You want to impress me: make a square circle."
The Lord spake, "Let there be a square circle." And there was.
But the philosopher protesteth, "That's not a square circle. It's a square."
The Lord grew angry. "If I say it's a circle, it's a circle. Watch your impertinence or else I shall smite thee very roughly indeed."
But the philosopher insisteth, "I didn't ask you to change the meaning of the word 'circle' so it just means 'square'. I wanted a genuinely square circle. Admit it - that's one thing you can't do."
The Lord thought a short while, and then decided to answer by unleashing his mighty vengeance on the philosopher's smart little arse.
Baggini, J., The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, 2005, p. 70.
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So, any thoughts on what this says about the limits of "God's" omnipotence?
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And the Lord spake unto the philosopher, "I am the Lord thy God, and I am all-powerful. There is nothing that you can say that can't be done. It's easy!"
And the philosopher spake unto the Lord, "OK, your mightiness. Turn everything that is blue red and everything that is red blue."
The Lord spake, "Let there be colour inversion!" And there was colour inversion, much to the confusion of the flag bearers of Poland and San Marino.
And the philosopher then spake unto the Lord, "You want to impress me: make a square circle."
The Lord spake, "Let there be a square circle." And there was.
But the philosopher protesteth, "That's not a square circle. It's a square."
The Lord grew angry. "If I say it's a circle, it's a circle. Watch your impertinence or else I shall smite thee very roughly indeed."
But the philosopher insisteth, "I didn't ask you to change the meaning of the word 'circle' so it just means 'square'. I wanted a genuinely square circle. Admit it - that's one thing you can't do."
The Lord thought a short while, and then decided to answer by unleashing his mighty vengeance on the philosopher's smart little arse.
Baggini, J., The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, 2005, p. 70.
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So, any thoughts on what this says about the limits of "God's" omnipotence?
