Answer to Paradox of Stone

[hispanicmormon]

The omnipotence paradox, or the paradox of the stone, says that God could not create a stone so heavy that God can't lift it. I have solved this riddle for all theists.

God can create a stone that increases in weight forever and ever. God is always applying more force to lift it. But he is never quite finished lifting it because it's always increasing in weight. Thus, God can create a stone that he can lift (as he always applies enough force to technically be lifting it) and that simultaneously he cannot lift (he's never done lifting it).

 

[Kemosloby]

Odd that God can do all that but can't create beings that put their time to good use.

 

[hispanicmormon]

Odd that God can do all that but can't create beings that put their time to good use.

There are MANY people who maximize their doings with the time they have. I'm not one of them!

 

[Stevicus]

The omnipotence paradox, or the paradox of the stone, says that God could not create a stone so heavy that God can't lift it. I have solved this riddle for all theists.

God can create a stone that increases in weight forever and ever. God is always applying more force to lift it. But he is never quite finished lifting it because it's always increasing in weight. Thus, God can create a stone that he can lift (as he always applies enough force to technically be lifting it) and that simultaneously he cannot lift (he's never done lifting it).

I suppose God could move any object in the universe, although I'm not sure where he would "lift" a giant rock from or in which direction. It would have to be larger than any known planet.

Could God create a star that's so big it could envelop an entire galaxy? Or perhaps make a star 100 billion light years in diameter? Could God increase the speed of light at will (or slow it down)?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The omnipotence paradox, or the paradox of the stone, says that God could not create a stone so heavy that God can't lift it. I have solved this riddle for all theists.

God can create a stone that increases in weight forever and ever. God is always applying more force to lift it. But he is never quite finished lifting it because it's always increasing in weight. Thus, God can create a stone that he can lift (as he always applies enough force to technically be lifting it) and that simultaneously he cannot lift (he's never done lifting it).

I actually dont understand the riddle. If god cannot create a stone heavier than he can carry, that would mean god would be limiting himself and since its said he cannot do that (part of his nature) it is impossible to create a stone contrary the laws of nature believers said he created.

How can god create something contrary to his ability to perform? If anything, because he is god he cant create and perform anything against his nature to do so. Unlike a human who can build a tall building he cant pick up the fact god can do anything excludes him from the ability againat his nature to create something that opposes his nature.

 

[Willamena]

"Lift," like "up," is a relative term. It requires gravity to fix direction; so what if God is moving a stone in zero-G space, where there is no "up"?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

The omnipotence paradox, or the paradox of the stone, says that God could not create a stone so heavy that God can't lift it. I have solved this riddle for all theists.

Good grief.

 

[Willamena]

The omnipotence paradox, or the paradox of the stone, says that God could not create a stone so heavy that God can't lift it. I have solved this riddle for all theists.

God can create a stone that increases in weight forever and ever. God is always applying more force to lift it. But he is never quite finished lifting it because it's always increasing in weight. Thus, God can create a stone that he can lift (as he always applies enough force to technically be lifting it) and that simultaneously he cannot lift (he's never done lifting it).

I liked my solution. God is the stone, the lifting and the carrying. Can God create God so God that God cannot God it?

 

[David T]

Odd that God can do all that but can't create beings that put their time to good use.

Thumbs up to the statement even as it's extremely scotish presbeterian!!!!

 

[CogentPhilosopher]

The omnipotence paradox, or the paradox of the stone, says that God could not create a stone so heavy that God can't lift it. I have solved this riddle for all theists.

God can create a stone that increases in weight forever and ever. God is always applying more force to lift it. But he is never quite finished lifting it because it's always increasing in weight. Thus, God can create a stone that he can lift (as he always applies enough force to technically be lifting it) and that simultaneously he cannot lift (he's never done lifting it).

I'm sorry to say that this does not solve the paradox. No amount of weight can be too heavy for a being of infinite strength therefore if the deity was still omnipotent it would be able to lift the rock instantly.

 

[hispanicmormon]

I'm sorry to say that this does not solve the paradox. No amount of weight can be too heavy for a being of infinite strength therefore if the deity was still omnipotent it would be able to lift the rock instantly.

But a rock of increasing weight cannot be lifted instantly...He has to keep applying force as the weight increases. Thus, he never finishes the work of lifting the rock. Yet, at every instant, he is holding the rock up.

 

[hispanicmormon]

I liked my solution. God is the stone, the lifting and the carrying. Can God create God so God that God cannot God it?

This opens up a can of philosophical worms. First, I am considering that God is greater than any of his creations. So to call the rock in this paradox God seems somewhat blasphemous. That would be like calling a fly God. Also, any of God's creative activity is not as great as God Himself. So the lifting cannot be called God neither. God does not God something. That would be making one of God's actions equal to Himself. This is silly.

I'm sorry but I don't think I can understand your solution to the riddle.

 

[CogentPhilosopher]

But a rock of increasing weight cannot be lifted instantly...He has to keep applying force as the weight increases. Thus, he never finishes the work of lifting the rock. Yet, at every instant, he is holding the rock up.

Incorrect.

No matter how long the rock has weight added to it, it would never have infinite weight.

 

[Willamena]

This opens up a can of philosophical worms. First, I am considering that God is greater than any of his creations. So to call the rock in this paradox God seems somewhat blasphemous. That would be like calling a fly God. Also, any of God's creative activity is not as great as God Himself. So the lifting cannot be called God neither. God does not God something. That would be making one of God's actions equal to Himself. This is silly.

I'm sorry but I don't think I can understand your solution to the riddle.

Mine was a rather vedantan view, even as a child.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I realize much theology and philosophy comes down to little more than semantics and word games, but applying a semantical glitch as a serious argument against a god (or omnipotence) doesn't elevate rationalism or skepticism in any way.

 

[Skwim]

The omnipotence paradox, or the paradox of the stone, says that God could not create a stone so heavy that God can't lift it. I have solved this riddle for all theists.

God can create a stone that increases in weight forever and ever. God is always applying more force to lift it. But he is never quite finished lifting it because it's always increasing in weight. Thus, God can create a stone that he can lift (as he always applies enough force to technically be lifting it) and that simultaneously he cannot lift (he's never done lifting it).

Therefore god does not have the ability to create a stone he cant lift. So much for his omnipotence. However, you say "he's never done lifting it." But that "he's never done lifting it" implies he IS indeed lifting it. That he's not done doing so is irrelevant. The paradox doesn't ask, "Can god create a rock so heavy he can't finish lifting it," but that he can't lift it at all.

The implication behind "never done" is that something (in this case, lifting) is or was occurring.
.

 

[hispanicmormon]

Incorrect.

No matter how long the rock has weight added to it, it would never have infinite weight.

Yes it would because a God made it. God can make something that NEVER STOPS having weight added to it.

 

[hispanicmormon]

Therefore god does not have the ability to create a stone he cant lift. So much for his omnipotence. However, you say "he's never done lifting it." But that "he's never done lifting it" implies he IS indeed lifting it. That he's not done doing so is irrelevant. The paradox doesn't ask, "Can god create a rock so heavy he can't finish lifting it," but that he can't lift it at all.

The implication behind "never done" is that something (in this case, lifting) is or was occurring.
.

In the end I'm going to use Kilgore Trout's comments as a copout. It's just a silly, little world game that tries illustrate God's omnipotence. But it has its glitch.

 

[hispanicmormon]

Mine was a rather vedantan view, even as a child.

teehee

 

[CogentPhilosopher]

Yes it would because a God made it. God can make something that NEVER STOPS having weight added to it.

But if a god could make a rock that he could never pick up instantly then that god would not be omnipotent.