Incompatible-Properties Arguments: A Survey

Incompatible-properties arguments represent a distinct class of atheistic reasoning that seeks to demonstrate the nonexistence of God by identifying contradictions within the concept of divine attributes. Theodore M. Drange's comprehensive survey examines these arguments, which differ from evidential approaches by focusing on the logical incoherence of theistic conceptions rather than empirical considerations.

Drange systematically catalogues various incompatible-properties arguments, beginning with those addressing single divine attributes. These include challenges to omniscience (such as the paradox of God knowing all truths while some truths appear unknowable), omnipotence (including variations of the stone paradox), and perfect goodness. He then examines arguments targeting combinations of attributes, such as the tension between divine immutability and omniscience, or between transcendence and omnipresence. Particularly significant are arguments concerning divine justice and mercy, which appear to pull in opposite directions, and the classical problem of reconciling divine foreknowledge with human free will.

The survey reveals how these arguments operate through a common logical structure: they begin with theistic premises about divine attributes, derive contradictory implications from these premises, and conclude that no being can possess such attributes. Drange notes that incompatible-properties arguments possess certain advantages over evidential arguments, primarily their independence from empirical disputes about natural evil or apparent design. They engage directly with conceptual analysis, making them particularly suited to philosophical discourse.

However, Drange also identifies significant limitations. Theistic responses typically involve redefining problematic attributes, arguing that apparent contradictions rest on misunderstandings, or maintaining that divine attributes operate in ways beyond human comprehension. The survey demonstrates how debates over these arguments often reduce to disputes about proper definitions and the scope of logical analysis when applied to divine concepts.

The work's contribution lies in providing a systematic taxonomy of these arguments while maintaining analytical neutrality. Drange organizes a scattered literature into a coherent framework, enabling clearer assessment of each argument's strengths and weaknesses. His survey reveals that while incompatible-properties arguments pose serious challenges to certain conceptions of God, their effectiveness depends heavily on which specific divine attributes one considers essential to theism. This comprehensive overview advances philosophical discussion by clarifying the logical terrain and identifying where substantive disagreements truly lie.