Molinism
This is named after the 16th century Spanish Jesuit theologian Luis de Molina. Itโs the thesis that God has middle knowledge, or scientia Media: the knowledge of counterfactuals, particularly counterfactuals regarding human action. It looks to reconcile the apparent tension of Divine Providence & human free will.
Molinists, following Luis de Molinaโs example, present Godโs knowledge in a sequence of 3 logical moments. The 1st of Godโs knowledge of necessary truths or natural Knowledge. The truths are independent of Godโs will & are non-contingent. This knowledge includes the full range of logical possibilities.
The 2nd is Godโs free Knowledge. This type of knowledge consists of contingent truths that are dependent on Godโs will, or truths, that God brings about. Free Knowledge encompasses the future of what will happen.
In between Godโs natural & free knowledge is His โmiddle knowledgeโ that contains the range of possible things that would happen given certain circumstances, by which God knows what His free creatures would do in any situation. These truths that donโt have to be true. But are true without God being the primary course of them.
Molinists use Matthew 11:23 to scripturally support their case. They claim that in this example, God knows what His free creatures would choose under hypothetical would choose under hypothetical circumstances. Namely that the Sodomites wouldโve responded to Jesusโ miracles still have been in existence in Jesusโ day, given that hypothetical situation.
Matthew 11:23 has whatโs commonly called a counterfactual of creaturely Freedom. However, counterfactuals are to be distinguished from foreknowledge. Middle knowledge is to be distinguished from Godโs knowledge of counterfactuals.
Molinists say the logical ordering of events for creation would be as follows: 1) Godโs natural knowledge of necessary truths. 2) Godโs middle knowledge, including counterfactuals. Then the Creation of the World. 3) Godโs free knowledge, the actual ontology of the world.
Ontology is a branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being. The placing of Godโs middle knowledge between Godโs knowledge of necessary truths & Godโs creative decree is crucial.
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