by Brian Bosse, Copyright March 25, 2008, all rights reserved. 36 views
What exactly is Middle Knowledge (MK)? Thomas Aquinas presented two categories of knowledge that God was said to have. One was "natural knowledge" (NK) and the other "free knowledge" (FK). MK is a third type of knowledge that God is said to have that fits in-between God's NK and His FK.
Natural Knowledge
Natural knowledge is that knowledge God has based on His very nature. It includes all necessary truths. For instance, the laws of logic would be part of God's NK. The set of all possible worlds would be included in this, and along with this all of the possible events that make up these possible worlds. All mathematical truths would be part of this. Here are some examples of this…
God knows that "If P, then Q" is the case, then "If ¬Q, then ¬P" is the case.
God knows that our actual world is possible.
God knows that
God knows that 2+2=4.
God knows that He is love.
Any propositions like this are considered natural knowledge. What is interesting about this knowledge is that it is knowledge independent of God's will – that is to say, it is pre-volitional. God did not will the law of non-contradiction. Rather, the law of non-contradiction is part of God's essence. NK is grounded in the very nature of God.
Free Knowledge
Free knowledge is that knowledge that God has concerning what He wills - desires. For instance, "It is possible that I exist" is true whether or not God creates me. That is to say, I do exist in some possible world even if God does not choose to actuate that world. However, the actuality that I exist depends upon God creating me, or more properly in God actualizing the possible worlds where I exist. All knowledge that is a result of God's will is FK. Here are several examples of FK…
God knows who will be saved.
God knows that Christ died.
God knows that
God knows that the president of the
All propositions of the actual world are part of God's FK. This knowledge depends upon God's will. It requires God doing something – actuating a particular possible world. It is "post-volitional" in nature.
Middle Knowledge
In our next post we will explain this. Suffice it to say it comes between FK and NK. One can see that NK is logically prior to FK. NK is not dependent upon God's will. NK is necessary. FK is contingent. MK is said to come between God's NK and His FK. The characteristic of MK is that it is not dependent upon God's will (it is pre-volitional like NK) yet, it is contingent like FN. We will explain the type of knowledge that makes up this category, and this will explain how the Molinist brings God's sovereignty and man's LFW together.
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