Title

CRAIG'S NOMINALISM AND THE HIGH COST OF PRESERVING DIVINE ASEITY

School/Department

Talbot School of Theology

Publication Date

Spring 2017

Abstract

William Lane Craig rejects Platonism (the view that uncreated abstract objects (AOs) exist) in favor of nominalism because he believes Platonism fatally compromises God’s aseity. For Craig, concrete particulars (including essences) exist, but properties do not. Yet, we use property-talk, following Carnap’s “linguistic frameworks.” There is, however, a high cost to Craig’s view. I survey his views and then explore the importance of essences. But, next, I show that his nominalism undermines them. Thus, we have just interpretations of reality. Worse, nominalism undermines creation’s determinacy. Last, I suggest AOs are created, but in a more fundamental sense than Craig considers.

Keywords

Nominalism; Platonists; Ontology

Publication Title

European Journal for Philosophy of Religion

DOI of Published Version

10.24204/ejpr.v9i1.1866

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