Omniscience: Difference between revisions
FyzixFighter (talk | contribs) →top: this much emphasis on Jainism in the lede seems undue weight |
Omniscience is the core of Jainism and has very very specific definition and a very very long history of defense against buddhism. If you look at Omnipotence article, it is all about Abrahamic religion with no mention of Jainism or Buddhism or Hinduism and that is fine because Omnipotence of God is core of Abrahamic religion. |
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'''Omniscience''' {{IPAc-en|ɒ|m|ˈ|n|ɪ|ʃ|ə|n|s}},<ref>{{OED|omniscience}}"</ref> is the capacity to know everything that there is to know. In particular, [[Indian religions|dharmic religions]] ([[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]] and [[Sikhism]]) and the [[Abrahamic religions]] ([[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]]) believe that there is a [[divine being]] who is omniscient. |
'''Omniscience''' {{IPAc-en|ɒ|m|ˈ|n|ɪ|ʃ|ə|n|s}},<ref>{{OED|omniscience}}"</ref> is the capacity to know everything that there is to know. As per [[Jain epistemology]], it is the most exhaustive kind out of the three kinds of [[paranormal]] knowledge a human being can acquire and is a natural progression from [[Clairvoyance]] knowledge and [[Telepathy]] knowledge. In particular, [[Indian religions|dharmic religions]] ([[Hinduism]], [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]] and [[Sikhism]]) and the [[Abrahamic religions]] ([[Judaism]], [[Christianity]], and [[Islam]]) believe that there is a [[divine being]] who is omniscient. |
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==Definitions== |
==Definitions== |
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Omniscience /ɒmˈnɪʃəns/,[1] is the capacity to know everything that there is to know. As per Jain epistemology, it is the most exhaustive kind out of the three kinds of paranormal knowledge a human being can acquire and is a natural progression from Clairvoyance knowledge and Telepathy knowledge. In particular, dharmic religions (Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism) and the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) believe that there is a divine being who is omniscient.
Definitions
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There is a distinction between:[citation needed]
- inherent omniscience, the ability to know anything that one chooses to know and can be known.
- total omniscience, actually knowing everything that can be known.
Some modern Christian theologians argue that God's omniscience is inherent rather than total, and that God chooses to limit his omniscience in order to preserve the freewill and dignity of his creatures.[2] John Calvin, among other theologians of the 16th century, comfortable with the definition of God as being omniscient in the total sense, in order for worthy beings' abilities to choose freely, embraced the doctrine of predestination.
Omniscience and free will
Whether omniscience, particularly regarding the choices that a human will make, is compatible with free will has been debated by theologians and philosophers. The argument that divine foreknowledge is not compatible with free will is known as theological fatalism. It is argued that if humans are free to choose between alternatives, God could not know what this choice will be.[3]
A question arises: if an omniscient entity knows everything, even about its own decisions in the future, does it therefore forbid any free will to that entity? William Lane Craig states that the question subdivides into two:
- If God foreknows the occurrence of some event E, does E happen necessarily?[4]
- If some event E is contingent, how can God foreknow E’s occurrence?[5]
However, this kind of argument fails to recognize its use of the modal fallacy. It is possible to show that the first premise of arguments like these is fallacious. [6][7]
Buddhism
The topic of omniscience has been much debated in various Indian traditions, but no more so than by the Buddhists. After Dharmakirti's excursions into the subject of what constitutes a valid cognition, Śāntarakṣita and his student Kamalaśīla thoroughly investigated the subject in the Tattvasamgraha and its commentary the Panjika. The arguments in the text can be broadly grouped into four sections:
- The refutation that cognitions, either perceived, inferred, or otherwise, can be used to refute omniscience.
- A demonstration of the possibility of omniscience through apprehending the selfless universal nature of all knowables, by examining what it means to be ignorant and the nature of mind and awareness.
- A demonstration of the total omniscience where all individual characteristics (svalaksana) are available to the omniscient being.
- The specific demonstration of Shakyamuni Buddha's non-exclusive omniscience.[8]
Jainism
In Jainism, omniscience is considered the highest type of perception. In the words of a Jain scholar,
The perfect manifestation of the innate nature of the self, arising on the complete annihilation of the obstructive veils, is called omniscience.[9]
Jainism views infinite knowledge as an inherent capability of every soul. Arihanta is the word used by Jains to refer to those human beings who have conquered all inner passions (like attachment, greed, pride, anger) and possess Kevala Jnana (infinite knowledge). They are said to be of two kinds:[10]
- Sāmānya kevali – omniscient beings (Kevalins) who are concerned with their own liberation.
- Tirthankara kevali – human beings who attain omniscience and then help others to achieve the same.[10]
See also
- Epistemology
- Omnibenevolence
- Omniscient point-of-view, in writing, is to know everything that can be known about a character.
- Omnipotence
- Omnipresence
- Pantomath
References
- ^ "omniscience". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)"
- ^ John Polkinghorne, Science and Theology SPCK/Fortress Press, 1998. ISBN 0-8006-3153-6
- ^ "Ron Barnette, a Bright-OMNISCIENCE AND FREEDOM". Valdosta.edu. 1999-09-16. Archived from the original on 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2013-04-25.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Purtill on Fatalism and Truth". Faith and Philosophy: 229–234. 1990.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Viney, Donald Wayne (Spring 1989). "Does Omniscience Imply Foreknowledge? Craig on Hartshorneby". Process Studies. 18 (1). Center for Process Studies: 30–37. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Foreknowledge and Free Will". The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 12 June 2010. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "'The' Modal Fallacy". https://www.sfu.ca/~swartz/. 5 March 2011. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher=|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ McClintock, Sara L. (2010). Omniscience and the Rhetoric of Reason. Wisdom Publications.
- ^ Mehta 1954, p. 99.
- ^ a b Sangave 2001, p. 16.
Sources
- Sangave, Vilas Adinath (2001), Aspects of Jaina religion (3 ed.), Bharatiya Jnanpith, ISBN 81-263-0626-2
- Mehta, Mohan Lal (1954), Outlines of Jaina Philosophy, Jain Mission Society (Original- the University of Michigan)
External links
- Wierenga, Edward. "Omniscience". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- Omniscience and Divine Foreknowledge article in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Is God All-Knowing?