trinities 370 - Dr. Steven Nemes's formal challenge to Trinity theories

https://trinities.org/blog/podcast-37... The thing about objecting to Trinity theories is that they are many and different, and generally speaking mutually inconsistent, so that an objection which applies to one Trinity theory will not apply to others.

But in chapter 3 of his new book Trinity and Incarnation: A Post-Catholic Theology, Dr. Steven Nemes gives a destructive tetralemma argument which applies to Trinity theories generally. This argument appeals only to the idea of ontological priority, then asking questions about the one ousia (substance, essence, nature) and the three hypostases (“Persons”): is (1) the ousia prior to the hypostases, or (2) are the hypostases prior to the ousia, or (3) are these all distinct but none is “before” or “after” any other, or (4) are the ousia and the hypostases not distinct (and so none is “before” or “after” any other)?

These are arguably all the options. But whichever way the trinitarian turns, it looks like his choice results in inconsistency with something else he’s committed to, such as divine simplicity or divine “processions.”

Dr. Nemes in effect is issuing a challenge to catholic theologians: how can you pick one of those four options and yet not contradict other theses to which you’re committed?

At the end of the episode, we discuss another argument, which is a 2-case dilemma. Does the divine nature imply or include tripersonality, or not? Either way, there would seem to serious problems for the trinitarian!

Links for this episode @ https://trinities.org/blog/podcast-37...

Dr. Nemes’s homepage

Trinity and Incarnation: A Post-Catholic Theology

Orthodoxy and Heresy

Theological Authority in the Church: Reconsidering Traditionalism and Hierarchy

Theology of the Manifest: Christianity without Metaphysics

Eating Christ’s Flesh: A Case for Memorialism

podcast 355 – Dr. Steven Nemes on Trinity theories – Part 2

podcast 354 – Dr. Steven Nemes on Trinity theories – Part 1

Brower and Rea, “Material Constitution and the Trinity“

Tuggy, “Constitution Trinitarianism: An Appraisal“

Tuggy, “Divine deception, identity, and Social Trinitarianism“

Tuggy, “Antiunitarian Arguments from Divine Perfection“ (on arguments that if there is one divine Person then there must be exactly three)

This week’s thinking music is “PHENIX” by Koi-Discovery.

Weekly podcast exploring views about the Trinity, and more generally about God and Jesus in Christian theology and philosophy. Debates, interviews, and historical and contemporary perspectives. Hosted by philosopher of religion / analytic theologian Dr. Dale Tuggy.

This week's thinking music is "PHENIX" by Koi-Discovery. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/ko...