Dipolarity and God

This monograph examines the concept of dipolarity as a framework for understanding divine attributes within analytic philosophy of religion. Brimblecombe investigates how dipolar theism attempts to reconcile apparent tensions between classical divine attributes and God's relationship with temporal creation. The work engages with process philosophy's influence on contemporary theistic discourse while maintaining an analytical approach to evaluating competing models of divine nature.

The author traces the development of dipolar concepts from Alfred North Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne through contemporary philosophical theology. Central to the analysis is the distinction between God's primordial and consequent natures, or what some theologians term God's transcendent and immanent aspects. Brimblecombe examines how this framework addresses traditional puzzles about divine immutability, omniscience, and God's knowledge of future contingents. The work critically assesses whether dipolarity offers genuine solutions or merely relocates classical problems.

The monograph engages with both defenders and critics of dipolar theism within the analytic tradition. Brimblecombe analyzes arguments from process theologians who claim dipolarity better accounts for divine responsiveness and genuine relationship with creation. Conversely, the work examines objections from classical theists who argue that dipolarity compromises divine perfection and introduces unacceptable metaphysical complexity. Particular attention is given to the coherence of claiming God possesses both necessary and contingent properties simultaneously.

Methodologically, the work employs careful conceptual analysis and logical scrutiny characteristic of analytic philosophy. Brimblecombe examines the internal consistency of dipolar models and their compatibility with other theological commitments. The analysis includes formal treatments of modal logic as applied to divine attributes and careful disambiguation of key terms like "change," "becoming," and "relation" in theological contexts.

The monograph's significance lies in its systematic evaluation of an influential but controversial approach to divine attributes. While process thought has gained traction in some theological circles, analytical philosophy of religion has often been skeptical of its metaphysical foundations. Brimblecombe's work provides a rigorous philosophical assessment that neither dismisses dipolar theism outright nor accepts it uncritically. The analysis contributes to ongoing debates about how best to conceive God's relationship to time, change, and creation while maintaining divine perfection. This careful examination helps clarify what is at stake philosophically in choosing between classical and neoclassical conceptions of God.