Did God Create Logic?

One of the most fundamental questions in philosophical theology is the question of God’s relation to abstract objects, particularly things like logical laws. It seems intuitive to conceive of logic as being necessarily existing, unchanging, and timeless. However, if that’s the case, then it would seem to imply that logic is uncreated. This seems to create some tension with the view held by many Christians that all things which are not God were created by God. So, did God create logic? Or is logic uncreated?

There are various views surrounding this issue amongst Christian philosophers. There are those who reject the view that God created logic because that would lead to an absurd state of affairs. If God created logic, the argument goes, then logic becomes contingent and arbitrary. If so, then God could will that contradictions be true or act in illogical ways - which is absurd. Such philosophers usually hold that logic has always existed and has always constrained God’s power. You’d hear things like “God can do whatever is logically possible”. This view would be unacceptable to any Christian who wants to maintain the self-sufficiency and aseity of God. Nothing outside God - not even logical possibility - limits or conditions His being.

If God is truly self-sufficient, then everything external to Him depends upon Him. Therefore, even logic depends upon God. How, then, do we avoid the problems that plague pure theological voluntarism? The answer is a two-tiered view of reality as a whole, and logic in particular. This has been called the Archetype-Ectype Model. Essentially, we must differentiate between divine logic and human logic. Divine logic just is the internal coherence of the Trinity, and it is normally incomprehensible to the creature. Human logic is an analogical reflection of divine logic on the creaturely level. This is a truly Christian account of logic.

In my book on logic I go into this model in more detail. I also explain how this view is the only one that can render logic intelligible. If logic were uncreated, then it would either be an abstract impersonal principle or a subjective construct of the human mind. In either case, it fails to apply to the realm of human experience. Anyways, you can grab a copy of the book here.

God bless! 

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