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Demiurge (PhD Edit)
PhD, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter, 2010: Theodicy and Practical Theology
Mill theorized of a God that resembled the ‘Platonic Demiurge.’ Carey (2002: 116). A demiurge is a Greek term meaning ‘artisan’, ‘craftsman.’ It is a deity that develops the material world from ‘preexisting chaos.’
Plato introduced the concept and term in his text 'Timaeus'. The perfectly good demiurge wishes to present his goodness and shapes the chaos as best he can, and the present world results. Wainwright (1996: 188).
The demiurge is a limited, non-omnipotent God, that did not create original matter. Wainwright (1996: 188). Blackburn (1996: 98). Mill’s deity is similar to the ‘Platonic Demiurge’ Wainwright (1996: 188). Carey (2002: 116). This deity simply develops matter from preexisting chaos Wainwright (1996: 188). This deity would not only be limited in power but also finite in nature.
Mill supports a concept of a first cause as in a series of events. Carey (2002: 116). Gordon (2002: 3). Mill (1833)(1985)(2009: 7-10). But this leaves the nagging question and problem of what was the cause of the Demiurge? An infinite eternal God can be understood as the first cause not needing a cause. God’s essence is eternal and necessary (logically must exist), and the finite universe is temporal and contingent (not necessary). Shedd (1874-1890)(1980: 191 Volume 1). A finite deity, although admittedly logically possible, requires further explanation.
Hypothetically, humanity and the universe could have been created by a finite God that was created by another cause. If the being is not revealed through Scriptural revelation, it is a God of primarily philosophical speculation and requires further elaboration on the part of Mill in regard to, for instance, why humanity should believe in and follow this type of deity, assuming that there is not a greater, infinite, eternal first cause that would necessarily exist behind that being.
April 20, 2017
Philosophically, ontologically, prior to a finite God, problems arise. Was there a vicious regress of prior finite Gods? There is a debate on whether or not, a vicious regress is logical or not, but it is not philosophically reasonable. It does not solve its own problem.
What existed prior to 'preexisting chaos'? Is there a vicious regress of preexisting chaos? If it is eternal and infinite 'chaos' then seemingly it would need no finite assistance in creation. It simply is.
A Scriptural view, beginning with Genesis 1, solves these problems by indicating that the infinite God, eternally existed and caused all finite creation.
BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
CAREY, GEORGE W. (2002) ‘The Authoritarian Secularism of John Stuart Mill’, in On Raeder’s Mill and the Religion of Humanity, Volume 15, Number 1, Columbia, University of Missouri Press.
GORDON, DAVID (2000) ‘John Stuart Mill on Liberty and Control’, in The Mises Review, Volume 6, Number 1, Auburn, Alabama, Ludwig Von Mises Institute. http://mises.org/misesreview_detail.aspx?control=151
MILL, JOHN STUART (1789-1861)(2003) Utilitarianism and On Liberty, Mary Warnock (ed.), Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.
MILL, JOHN STUART (1825-1868)(1984) Essays on Equality, Law, and Education, John M. Robson (ed.), University of Toronto Press, Toronto, University of Toronto Press.
MILL, JOHN STUART (1833)(1985)(2009) Theism: John Stuart Mill, The Collected Works of John Stuart Mill, Volume X - Essays on Ethics, Religion, and Society, Toronto, University of Toronto Press.
MILL, JOHN STUART (1874)(2002) The Utility of Religion, London, Longman, Green, and Reader.
MILL, JOHN STUART (1874)(1885) Nature the Utility of Religion and Theism, London, Longmans, Green and Co.
PLATO (360 B.C.)(1982) ‘Timaeus’, in Process Studies, Volume. 12, Number 4, Winter, pp.243-251. Claremont, California, Process Studies.
SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 1, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
SHEDD, WILLIAM G.T. (1874-1890)(1980) Dogmatic Theology, Volume 2, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
WAINWRIGHT, WILLIAM J. (1996) ’Demiurge’, in Robert Audi, (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
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