The Logical Problem of the Trinity and the Strong Theory of Relative Identity

Sophia 56 (2):227-245 (2017)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

In this paper, I consider the philosophical consequences of one tradition in Trinitarian theology, which emphasizes that each of the persons of the Trinity is wholly God. I pay special attention to Leftow’s claim that the persons of the Godhead must be divine in the same sense of the word ‘divine’ as the Godhead itself. I argue that the existing philosophical account of the Trinity which best captures this view is what I have termed the ‘Strong Theory of Relative Identity,’ first proposed Peter Geach. I then develop what I take to be the most pressing objection to this account of the Trinity, namely that it cannot be supplemented with a coherent model-theoretic semantics. I end with a suggestion for responding to this objection.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 91,122

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

The Trinity.H. E. Baber - 2015 - Faith and Philosophy 32 (2):161-171.
On the Geachian Theory of the Trinity And Incarnation.James Cain - 2016 - Faith and Philosophy 33 (4):474-486.
Relative Identity and the Doctrine of the Trinity.Michael C. Rea - 2003 - Philosophia Christi 5 (2):431 - 445.
Many-One Identity and the Trinity.Shieva Kleinschmidt - 2012 - Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Religion 4:84-96.
God, Emperor and Relative Identity.A. P. Martinich - 1979 - Franciscan Studies 39 (1):180-191.
Divine Temporality, the Trinity, and the Charge of Arianism.R. T. Mullins - 2016 - Journal of Analytic Theology 4:267-290.
The Logical Space of Social Trinitarianism.Matthew Davidson - 2016 - Faith and Philosophy 33 (3):333-357.
A Trinity on a Trinity on a Trinity.John Zeis - 1993 - Sophia 32 (1):45 - 55.

Analytics

Added to PP
2017-07-04

Downloads
83 (#193,031)

6 months
9 (#210,105)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Daniel Molto
University of Sussex

Citations of this work

Relative identity.Harry Deutsch - 2008 - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
A Formal-Logical Approach to the Concept of God.Ricardo Sousa Silvestre - 2021 - Manuscrito. Revista Internacional de Filosofia 44 (4):224-260.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Reference and generality.P. T. Geach - 1962 - Ithaca, N.Y.,: Cornell University Press. Edited by Michael C. Rea.
Identity in physics: a historical, philosophical, and formal analysis.Steven French & Decio Krause - 2006 - New York: Oxford University Press. Edited by Decio Krause.
The Christian God.Richard Swinburne - 1994 - New York: Oxford University Press.
Identity.Peter T. Geach - 1967 - Review of Metaphysics 21 (1):3 - 12.
Relative identity.Nicholas Griffin - 1977 - Oxford: Clarendon Press.

View all 33 references / Add more references