The omnipotence paradox is a philosophical paradox which arises when
attempting to apply logic to the notion of an omnipotent being. The
paradox is based around the question of whether or not an omnipotent
being is able to perform actions that would limit its own omnipotence,
thus becoming non-omnipotent. Some philosophers see this argument as
proof of the impossibility of the existence of any such entity; others
assert that the paradox arises from a misunderstanding or
mischaracterization of the concept of omnipotence. In addition,
several philosophers have considered the assumption that a being is
either omnipotent or non-omnipotent to be a false dilemma, as it
neglects the possibility of varying degrees of omnipotence. Often, the
paradox is formulated in terms of the God of the Abrahamic religions,
though this is not a requirement. Since the Middle Ages, philosophers
have phrased the paradox in many ways, of which the classic example
is, "Could an omnipotent being create a rock so heavy that even that
being could not lift it?" This particular statement has subtle flaws,
but as the most famous version, it still serves adequately for
illustrating the different ways the paradox has been analyzed.
(more...)
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnipotence_paradox
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1768:
Philip Astley staged the first modern circus in London.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/circus_%28performing_art%29)
1839:
The French Academy of Sciences announced the Daguerreotype
photographic process, named after its inventor, Louis Daguerre.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daguerreotype)
1878:
Humbert the Good became King of Italy.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umberto_I_of_Italy)
1916:
World War I: In Gallipoli, the Ottoman Empire was victorious in the
Battle of Çanakkale.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gallipoli)
1964:
Martyrs' Day in Panama. 4 days of fighting between US armed forces and
panamanian civillians to end the Canal Zone.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrs%27_Day)
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Wikiquote of the day:
"Life will not perish! It will begin anew with love; it will start out
naked and tiny; it will take root in the wilderness, and to it all
that we did and built will mean nothing — our towns and factories,
our art, our ideas will all mean nothing, and yet life will not
perish! Only we have perished. Our houses and machines will be in
ruins, our systems will collapse, and the names of our great will fall
away like dry leaves. Only you, love, will blossom on this rubbish
heap and commit the seed of life to the winds." -- Karel Čapek
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Karel_%C3%84%C5%92apek)