The Necessity of Logical Principles Before Discussing God
Before we even begin discussing God and His actions, we must recognize an important truth: logical axioms and first principles are the foundation of reality.
The law of non-contradiction (something cannot exist and not exist at the same time).
The law of identity (a thing is itself and not something else).
The principle of sufficient reason (everything that exists has a reason for its existence).
These principles are not human inventions. They are the very structure of reality itself. Without them, we cannot make sense of anything. Words, sentences, and even thoughts would lose their meaning.
Now, if someone says:
> “God transcends these principles, so He can do things that break logic.”
This creates a huge problem:
If logic doesn’t apply, then reality itself becomes unintelligible.
Words like “God,” “power,” “create,” and “exist” stop meaning anything because they depend on logical coherence to make sense.
Even asking a question about God like “Can God do X?” becomes impossible because the framework needed to ask and understand the question has already collapsed.
In other words:
> If reality is no longer grounded in logical principles, then asking about God’s nature or actions is meaningless.
Questions like:
“Can God create a stone He cannot lift?”
“Can God cease to exist?”
“Can God make 2+2=5?”
…are not just strange, they are nonsense. They attempt to discuss something while simultaneously destroying the very conditions that make discussion possible.
If reality itself could change arbitrarily, if square circles and existing/non-existing simultaneously were possible, then all reasoning, language, and knowledge would collapse. In that case, the discussion about God wouldn’t just be difficult; it would be impossible.
God's Power and Logical Absurdities
God's actions being bound by logical rules does not limit His omnipotence. Rather, logical consistency is part of God's nature, not a constraint outside Him.
Why This Is Not a Limitation
Logical contradiction is not a "thing" to be done:
Surah al-Baqarah 2:106: "Indeed, Allah is over all things competent."
Omnipotence means God can do all "things". But logical contradictions are not "things" at all. They are not a real entity to begin with. For example:
"Creating a square circle"
"Making 2+2 equal 5"
"Existing and not existing at the same time"
These are not tasks—they are meaningless combinations of words, a linguistic illusion. So, not doing them is not a limitation on His omnipotence. They're like asking: “Can God make blue smell louder than justice?”
It is more appropriate to say that such things cannot be done than to say that God cannot do them, because they are not properly ‘things’.
You can’t say: “Can God draw a square circle?” or “Can God make Himself cease to exist?”
That’s not a test of omnipotence, it’s a misuse of language.
Meaningless combinations of words do not suddenly acquire meaning simply because we prefix them with the words ‘God can.’
Because nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God.
Analogy:
Suppose someone says:
"Can the most powerful painter paint a color that is not a color?"
That’s not a limitation of the painter. It’s just a nonsense request.
So, God not doing the logically impossible is not a weakness; it’s a reflection of the coherence of His nature.
Misunderstanding 'Power':
"Can God create another god?" or "Can God cease to exist?" is a false question because it involves denying God's necessary nature, which is irrational and not possible.
The idea that God’s power is ‘limited’ because He does not do impossible things is a misunderstanding of what power means.
Because, logical contradictions are not "entities" (ashya’) for power to act on. They don't exist, so power doesn't apply to them.
He is called omnipotent because He does what He wills, not because He suffers what He does not will.
For the things that cannot be ascribed to His actions are those that are not signs of power but of weakness and hence incompatible with God.
Limitation implies a higher standard:
Saying God is limited by logic only makes sense if logic is outside or greater than God. But theologians argue:
Logic is grounded in God’s nature.
God doesn’t conform to logic; rather, logic flows from His own rational, perfect essence.
So, God is not under logic—He is the source of rational order.
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Here’s a simplified rational proof common in kalām theology:
Premise 1: Omnipotence (al-qudra) is the capacity to bring about things (ashyā’).
Premise 2: A thing (shay') must be conceivable (maʿqūl) and not self-contradictory.
Example: A square circle is not a “thing”; it is a contradiction in terms.
Premise 3: Logical contradictions are not real things, because their very definitions negate themselves.
"Can God create a rock He can’t lift?" is like saying:
“Can God be weak and strong in the same sense at the same time?”
→ This is not a "thing" but a linguistic illusion.
Conclusion:
God’s power applies to all things (kulli shay’ mumkin), but logical contradictions are not “things”, so not doing them does not limit God.
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Effects on the Concepts of Reality and Existence
If one believes that God can do illogical things, it has profound and complex effects on the concepts of reality and existence, primarily by challenging the foundational role of logic in understanding the universe. Basing on the above discussion, here's a breakdown of the implications:
1. On the Nature of Reality (Metaphysics):
* Undermining Universal Laws: If God can defy logic, then the very laws of nature and the principles governing existence become contingent and potentially arbitrary. For instance, if God can make a square circle, then the concept of a square or a circle, and the mathematical principles that define them, lose their inherent meaning.
* Arbitrary Creation: A God who can do illogical things implies a reality that isn't necessarily coherent or understandable through reason. The universe could operate on principles that are unfathomable to human intellect, or it could change in unpredictable, illogical ways. However, from what we know about the world, this isn't the case.
2. On the Nature of Knowledge (Epistemology):
* Limits of Human Reason: If God's actions are not bound by logic, then human reason becomes inherently insufficient to comprehend the reality God created. Our logical frameworks, which are the basis of science and philosophy, would be revealed as limited or even fundamentally flawed when applied to the ultimate nature of existence.
* Skepticism and Nihilism: If reality itself can be illogical, it could lead to profound skepticism about the possibility of any meaningful knowledge. If "anything goes," then the pursuit of understanding through consistent principles might seem futile, potentially leading towards nihilism.
3. On Ethics:
* An "illogical God" could command contradictions (e.g., "always tell the truth and always lie"). This would make ethical reasoning impossible.
In essence, believing God can do illogical things will render meaningless how we understand reality, existence, knowledge, and truth and make them all arbitrary leading to Ontological and Epistemological chaos. Hence it's important to keep in mind logical principles while discussing God and His actions.
(The first section on 'The Necessity of Logical Principles Before Discussing God' was added by Dr. Asim sb)
