How can you choose to not know something without already knowing it? (re: Free Will)?

Question

It is often argued that free will is logically inconsistent with God's omniscience. A counter to this argument I have heard is that just because God can know everything, does not mean that he does, and that he can choose not to know certain things.

How is it possible to choose not to know something without already knowing it?

I ask because I am taking an introductory philosophy course which is currently examining the Argument from Evil and the Free Will Theodicy, and I am attempting to understand how it would make sense that God could limit his own omniscience and still be omniscient.

For the purpose of this discussion, God is defined as an all-knowing, all-powerful, benevolent being.

Answer 1

The only solution that I've heard is, more or less, an appeal to the nature of omniscience, stating that true omniscience is unconstrained by the logic and physics applied to the finite universe. I wish I could find a nicer label for it than "total cop-out answer."

I'm not saying that there isn't an answer, just that one hasn't been discovered that can withstand rigorous examination and not contradict itself or the natural axioms.

In this respect, I can't help but find the ideas of free will and God to be, at this point, logically incompatible.

Answer 2

First of all, free will and the omniscience of a god are not incompatible. Just because god knows what your choice will be, doesn't mean that you don't have a choice. The choice is still yours. You decide if you are going to take one path or another, shave your head or grow your hair long. The concept of god just happens to know what that choice will be, without any influence on or limitation to your decision making ability.

Your question is a little different, though. As it applies to a person, there are overlapping but not completely connected levels of consciousness. So, on one level, you could choose to ignore information, and keep it hidden from your conscious mind. Then you would technically know something, but you would be choosing "not to know it", by subconsciously hiding or rejecting it.

Answer 3

I feel you can not make a real choice, if you do not understand or have experienced both sides. The term "God" is relative to where you live or what you believe in, it is a general term. That is used to be all powerful and to be afraid of. Then also, if good and evil are the terms or sides. How do you really know if you are good or evil. Are we constantly making the same mistakes over and over as the human race. Are we better than our ancestors, is technology evil, and we were made to be simple creatures in the forest? I hope that one day I am clear, but for now I do what I feel is right, and live in the rules of the society in America. I am free to believe how I choose, but looked at strangly for not believing in a Christain God. Is the majority right? If so , then all minority religions are wrong? Is the majority right? Elected Officals? Why is that different? Faith is a word, used to hide from facts.

Answer 4

I got tossed out of 7th grade religion class by Sister Mercedes for asking "can God make a stone so big that He can't lift it?"

The class thought it was hilarious, but I wasn't trying to be funny. I guess Sister M. didn't have an answer. I think she should have told me that God could have designed Himself with any weaknesses he wanted. It's His choice to be all powerful and to design all existence as He sees fit (including Himself).

God wants us to be free to make choices, good and bad. If God had created a predetermined perfect world, one with no hardship, no disease, no bad outcomes possible, he would have deprived us of His greatest gift... our free will. Our free will is what makes us uniquely human.

It's wrong to believe that God's "omniscience" would preclude our ability to make a bad decision or to suffer a loss. It's all part of the uniqueness of each life. God expects us to do the best we can with the gifts He has given us. And He gives us plenty of options.

A video game designer knows every outcome that a given player can achieve. He is "omniscient" as to the possibilities. But he wants each player to sense some control over his final score.

Otherwise, the game would suck.

Answer 5

By living in denial. If you choose not to know something even though you do know it than you are living in denial.
Also, god is not limiting his omniscience through Free Will. He know what he wants from us, what path he whats us to take. Through Free Will, we are given the oppurtunity to either follow the path he has set before us or ignore it.

Answer 6

Stop yourself in a moment, and you will realize that in a moment you are empty, no knowledge...unless you are stimulated to withdraw it from somewhere within you...When you are happy, in that particular moment you are Happy and there is no any kind of knowledge in your mind exist, just happiness..Would it be a key to happiness? When you are in a moment of loving date do you really " know "what you 'knew" yesterday?...you have both, knowing and not knowing at once, you already have it...Somehow majority choose to "Know" and as a result become mortal, constantly living in that state "I know/ I don't...and if you don't you still know it, as minimum that you don't...so you are not an innocent unless you embody in live in state of ABSENCE of knowledge, state I exampled above... That how you may discover and obtain internal wisdom, which has very a little to do with so-called knowledge

Answer 7

The same way Santa Claus comes down the chimney and delivers presents to every boy and girl in one night.

Trying to use logic to solve mythical puzzles just doesn’t work.

Answer 8

But I didn't know that I knew so how could I know that I knew?

I am a Buddist so when I go to a hot dog stand I always have one with everything.

Answer 9

Sorry, but your question its completely illogical. If you ignore something, how could you be able to choose it?

Answer 10

What in the world are you on about???