Difference between revisions of "Philosophy:Free Will/1"
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(Original Author: Dr. Shira Weiss) |
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<p>These philosophical questions arise in a number of Biblical texts:</p> | <p>These philosophical questions arise in a number of Biblical texts:</p> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b>Hardened hearts</b> – There are several Biblical verses which describe how Hashem hardened people's hearts. While the most famous instance is the hardening of Paroh's heart in < | + | <li><b>Hardened hearts</b> – There are several Biblical verses which describe how Hashem hardened people's hearts. While the most famous instance is the hardening of Paroh's heart in <a href="Shemot4-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 4:21</a>, similar descriptions appear in the stories of Sichon in <a href="Devarim2-30" data-aht="source">Devarim 2</a>, the nations of Canaan in <a href="Yehoshua11-20" data-aht="source">Yehoshua 11</a>, and the Baal worshippers in the time of Eliyahu in <a href="MelakhimI18-37" data-aht="source">Melakhim I 18</a>, as well as in the prophecies of <multilink><a href="Yeshayahu6-10" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu</a><a href="Yeshayahu6-10" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 6:10</a><a href="Yeshayahu63-17" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 63:17</a></multilink>.<fn>See also Devarim 29:3 where Moshe recounts how Israel has witnessed all of God's miracles throughout their history, yet "God has not given you a heart to know, eyes to see, or ears to hear until this day".</fn> Did God deprive these people of their free will? If so, how can they be held responsible for their actions? See <a href="Hardened Hearts" data-aht="page">Hardened Hearts</a> for more.</li> |
| − | <li><b>Sale of Yosef</b> – Did God send Yosef to Egypt as Yosef revealed to his brothers in <aht | + | <li><b>Sale of Yosef</b> – Did God send Yosef to Egypt as Yosef revealed to his brothers in <a href="Bereshit45" data-aht="source">Bereshit 45:8</a>? If so, how could the brothers be held responsible for the sale?</li> |
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| − | <li><b>Akeidat Yitzchak</b> – Did God know how Avraham would respond to His command in <aht | + | <li><b>Akeidat Yitzchak</b> – Did God know how Avraham would respond to His command in <a href="Bereshit22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 22</a>? If God knew with His immutable omniscience how Avraham would respond, did Avraham really have free will?</li> |
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</ul> | </ul> | ||
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<h2>Divine Foreknowledge of Human Actions</h2> | <h2>Divine Foreknowledge of Human Actions</h2> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li>Sins – Bereshit 15 – see < | + | <li>Sins – Bereshit 15 – see <a href="Divine Plans and Egyptian Free Choice" data-aht="page">Divine Plans and Egyptian Free Choice</a>, Shemuel II 12:11 (see Radak).</li> |
<li>Virtues – </li> | <li>Virtues – </li> | ||
<li>Punishments – </li> | <li>Punishments – </li> | ||
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<li>Causing sin | <li>Causing sin | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | Paroh, Sichon, Nations of Canaan, Children of Israel in the time of Eliyahu and Yeshayahu - see < | + | Paroh, Sichon, Nations of Canaan, Children of Israel in the time of Eliyahu and Yeshayahu - see <a href="Hardened Hearts" data-aht="page">Hardened Hearts</a>. |
| − | Egyptians in Tehillim 105:25 – see < | + | Egyptians in Tehillim 105:25 – see <a href="Divine Plans and Egyptian Free Choice" data-aht="page">Divine Plans and Egyptian Free Choice</a> and <a href="New King or Dynasty" data-aht="page">New King or Dynasty?</a>. |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</li> | </li> | ||
Latest revision as of 18:47, 11 August 2014
Free Will1
Introduction
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Philosophical Issues
- Divine omniscience – If God has perfect and immutable knowledge and knows how man will act, how can man act freely?
- Divine omnipotence – If God is all powerful, how can man have free will? Can God not control what man can do?
- Divine justice – If man does not have free will, how can God hold him morally responsible for coerced actions?
Biblical Texts
These philosophical questions arise in a number of Biblical texts:
- Hardened hearts – There are several Biblical verses which describe how Hashem hardened people's hearts. While the most famous instance is the hardening of Paroh's heart in Shemot 4:21, similar descriptions appear in the stories of Sichon in Devarim 2, the nations of Canaan in Yehoshua 11, and the Baal worshippers in the time of Eliyahu in Melakhim I 18, as well as in the prophecies of Yeshayahu.2 Did God deprive these people of their free will? If so, how can they be held responsible for their actions? See Hardened Hearts for more.
- Sale of Yosef – Did God send Yosef to Egypt as Yosef revealed to his brothers in Bereshit 45:8? If so, how could the brothers be held responsible for the sale?
