Still Another Anti-Molinist Argument

Abstract

Molinists offer a tempting bargain: accept divine middle knowledge, and reap solutions to a number of philosophical/theological problems. The prime benefit we are meant to reap from middle knowledge is a solution to the problem of freedom and providence. I argue that they cannot deliver. Even if we make metaphysical and semantic assumptions that have generally been considered friendly to Molinism, Molinism is in danger of undermining divine providence altogether. The spectre of this “collapse” persists despite Molinism-friendly assumptions and plagues the best Molinist theories defended in the literature.

Keywords

• Molinism, Counterfactuals of Freedom, Providence, Divine Agency, Freedom