Integrating Plenitude, Axiarchism And Agency

Peter Forrest

doi:10.18290/rf237102.5

Published : 2023-06-28

Vol. 71 No. 2 (2023)

Integrating Plenitude, Axiarchism And Agency

Peter Forrest

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5575-0664

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rf237102.5

Abstract

I consider three candidates for ultimate understanding: (1) ultimate agency, the familiar idea of understanding the existence and nature of the universe as created by God for good reasons; (2) axiarchism, the initially counter-intuitive idea that goodness is the first cause of contingent reality; and (3) plenitude, the thesis that all possible types of situation are real.

After some initial clarification, I note the problems with axiarchism, and offer solutions. These solutions require the unification of space and time as space-time, and the consequent introduction of what might be called hypertime, but which I take to be true time—Time with an upper case “T”. I note how axiarchism and plenitude may be combined into the Plenum Bonum thesis that all and only good universes are real. Next, I note some problems with agency as an ultimate way of understanding. Finally, I solve these by means of a theory of agency as completing axiarchism, the Good versus Good theory.

Keywords:

agency, axiarchism, plenitude, space-time, Time, understanding

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