Omniscience (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry)

This encyclopedic entry provides a comprehensive philosophical analysis of divine omniscience, examining the conceptual challenges and proposed solutions surrounding God's putative knowledge of all truths. Wierenga structures his examination around the central definitional question of what constitutes omniscience and the various puzzles that arise when this attribute is subjected to rigorous philosophical scrutiny.

The entry begins by establishing the standard definition of omniscience as knowing all truths and believing no falsehoods, then proceeds to unpack the complications inherent in this seemingly straightforward formulation. Wierenga carefully delineates several major philosophical challenges to coherent omniscience, including the problems posed by indexical propositions, temporal propositions, and most notably, the apparent conflict between divine foreknowledge and human free will.

Regarding indexicals, Wierenga explores whether God can know propositions like "I am making a mess" when uttered by a human agent, given that the truth conditions depend on the speaker's identity. The temporal challenge concerns whether an eternal God can know time-bound truths such as "It is now raining." The entry examines various proposed solutions, including the distinction between propositional and non-propositional knowledge, and the debate over whether God's knowledge should be understood as timeless or temporal.

The most substantial portion addresses the foreknowledge-freedom debate, outlining four major philosophical positions: theological compatibilism, Molinism, Ockhamism, and open theism. Wierenga explains how each approach attempts to preserve both divine omniscience and libertarian free will, noting their respective strengths and vulnerabilities. He gives particular attention to the concept of middle knowledge in Molinism and the grounding objection it faces.

Throughout, Wierenga maintains philosophical neutrality while thoroughly mapping the logical terrain. He references key historical figures including Boethius, Aquinas, and Ockham, as well as contemporary philosophers like Pike, Plantinga, and van Inwagen. The entry serves as an essential reference point for understanding how analytic philosophy of religion approaches divine attributes, demonstrating both the sophistication of theistic philosophical reflection and the persistent conceptual difficulties in articulating a coherent doctrine of omniscience. By presenting the debate's current state without advocating for any particular resolution, Wierenga enables readers to grasp why omniscience remains one of the most philosophically challenging aspects of classical theism.