PHL 110 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Impassibility
Document Summary
To say god is immutable is to say that god cannot change. First argument - consider this from god"s absolute perfection. Anything that is absolutely perfect cannot change by getting better, not can it change by getting worse. Since that which is absolutely perfect cannot get better or worse, then because of its perfection it will and must remain the same. Therefore, god is absolutely perfect and cannot change. Second argument - consider this from god"s absolute simplicity. In order for change to take place in a thing it must have at least two parts. Change of a thing requires that it continue to exist and retain its identity through the change. But that which is absolutely simple has no parts, therefore it cannot change. That which is absolutely perfect cannot depend on anything for its nature, existence, or unit. God is perfect, therefore he must be simple, therefore god has no parts and cannot change.