God and the Stone

A long time ago I came across a question regarding God's omnipotence that had me frustrated for the longest time. Most of you have probably heard it, for it is one of the best known Catch-22 questions. The question, simply, is this:

"Can God create a stone so massive that He himself cannot lift it?"

As you can see, at first glance this poses a problem for a believer in God's omnipotence. It seems, that if God CAN create such stone, then there is something beyond his power (lifting it). On the other hand, if he CAN'T create such a stone, then he is also limited in his creating power, and thus no longer omnipotent.

So, what have we here? An unsolvable dilemma? Not quite, thanks to George Mavrodes.

There are two ways in which to answer the question without having to deny God's omnipotence, and they are both more simple than you might think. Simply put, the answers are "Yes, He can", and "No, He cannot".

Before you start mouthing obscenities, allow me to explain.

Method 1

The first answer, "Yes, He can", is the more complex of the two. It seems at first that answering the question in that manner would lead us straight into the original dilemma. However, it does not. This is because by answering the question thus, you forcing the objector to assume that the creation of such a stone means that God is omnipotent, and he can therefore no longer use the same answer to prove that God ISN'T omnipotent.

Confused? Allow me to elaborate further. First, examine the original question and you can see that it is a two part "if...then..." question, such as follows:
1. If God is omnipotent, then He CAN create a stone that He cannot lift.
2. If God is omnipotent, then He CANNOT create a stone that He cannot lift.

Realise that the two postulates contradict each other. Therefore, logically, only one can be correct.

By answering "Yes, He can", you have effectively ruled out number 2, and thus you've eliminated the dilemma. This is because you've fulfilled the criteria for God's omnipotence as postulated in rule No. 1. You are effectively limiting the definition of God's omnipotence to the ability to create such a stone. In mathematical terms:

[For lack of the proper symbol I will use "=/" to mean "does not equal"]

1. God is omnipotent =/ God is not omnipotent (Duh)

2. Yes, He can create a stone He cannot lift (your answer)=God is omnipotent (your meaning)

Therefore,

3. Yes, He can create a stone He cannot lift =/ God is not omnipotent

You see, for the objector to use your answer to prove that God isn't omnipotent would require him to accept that:

God is omnipotent=He can create the stone=God isn't omnipotent

(This is because based on your answer and conclusion, the objector cannot reject that God is omnipotent=He can create the stone)

Or, in clearer terms:

He can create the stone=God is omnipotent=God isn't omnipotent

Obviously, this is wrong, for God cannot be omnipotent and NOT omnipotent at the same time.


Some objectors would try to phrase it this way.

1. If God CANNOT create a stone so large that he himself cannot lift it, then He IS omnipotent.
2. He can create such a stone (Your answer).
3. He isn't omnipotent.

This, however, is a logical fallacy because it requires one to assume He isn't omnipotent BEFORE one can arrive at the same conclusion that He isn't omnipotent. This is called "begging the question" (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging_the_question), and although the procession of ideas is valid, it tells us nothing about whether God really is or isn't omnipotent and is thus worthless.


Method 2

To answer the question negatively ("No, He cannot") is slightly easier to understand, and is based on the notion of infinity. Those of you who have studied math would know that infinity-x=infinity. Keep that in mind.

So, what are the implications of the answer, "No, He cannot"? You are, of course, limiting God in a certain way. But what is that limitation? That He cannot create a stone larger than He can lift.
Note, however, that this does not restrict God's lifting power. Assuming God's omnipotence, God still has infinite lifting power.

To make it more sensible, lets define God's lifting power as the number of kilograms he can lift.

Thus, assuming God's omnipotence, God's lifting power=infinity kg

Because we've already limited God's stone-creating ability to a number smaller than he can lift, that means He can create a stone with the mass of God's lifting power - 1.

Assuming God's omnipotence, this means that God can create a stone the size of (infinity-1) kg, which is equal to infinity kg! The supposed limitation turns out to be no limitation at all!

To put it in words, anything that is limited by something that is infinite is itself infinite. Thus God can create to infinity without outstripping his power to lift (also infinity), and you have not contradicted yourself. In this manner, limiting an omnipotent God is an exercise in futility.

So, the next time someone pops you the question "Can God create a stone so large that He himself cannot move it?", just look them straight in the eye and answer either "Yes" or "No". Either way, God can still be omnipotent, and you can chuckle to yourself about the worthlessness of the question.


p/s This argument in no way proves that God IS omnipotent. It just intends to show that certain arguments intended to prove that He CANNOT be omnipotent fail.

Reference: George Mavrodes, 1963. "Some Puzzles Concerning Omnipotence", Philosophical Review 72.