本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Int J Phil Re115:171 (1984).
9 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, The Hague. Printed in the Netherlands.
THE PARADOX OF EDEN
RICHARD R. La CROIX
State University College at Buffalo
In the book of Genesis we are told that God created Adam and Eve and put them
in the garden of Eden. God also placed in the midst of the garden of Eden the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve were permitted to eat of any of
the trees in the garden of Eden, but God commanded them not to eat the fruit of
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The forbidden fruit was eaten by Adam
and Eve and God punished them for their disobedience (see Genesis 3:16-19).
Notice that there is a difficulty with this story. Before they ate the forbidden
fruit Adam and Eve either knew that obeying God is good and disobeying God is
evil or they did not know this. If they knew it, then Adam and Eve would have already
possessed the knowledge of good and evil and through his omniscience God
would know this and he would also know that Adam and Eve would not very likely
be tempted to eat the forbidden fruit because they would have nothing to gain
by disobeying God. So, since God's command not to eat the fruit of the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil was an inadequate and unfair test of the righteousness
of Adam and Eve if they already possessed the knowledge of good and evil,
God acted unjustly by making this command if they already had this knowledge.
On the other hand, if Adam and Eve did not know that obeying God is good and
disobeying God is evil, then they could not have known that it was wrong or evil
to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So, since God punished
Adam and Eve for doing something that they could not have known to be
wrong or evil, God acted unjustly by punishing them. It would appear to follow
that whether or not Adam and Eve knew that obeying God is good and disobeying
God is evil, God acted unjustly. But, then, God is just at one time and unjust at
another time. Consequently, being just is not a necessary or essential property of
God.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
9 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, The Hague. Printed in the Netherlands.
THE PARADOX OF EDEN
RICHARD R. La CROIX
State University College at Buffalo
In the book of Genesis we are told that God created Adam and Eve and put them
in the garden of Eden. God also placed in the midst of the garden of Eden the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve were permitted to eat of any of
the trees in the garden of Eden, but God commanded them not to eat the fruit of
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The forbidden fruit was eaten by Adam
and Eve and God punished them for their disobedience (see Genesis 3:16-19).
Notice that there is a difficulty with this story. Before they ate the forbidden
fruit Adam and Eve either knew that obeying God is good and disobeying God is
evil or they did not know this. If they knew it, then Adam and Eve would have already
possessed the knowledge of good and evil and through his omniscience God
would know this and he would also know that Adam and Eve would not very likely
be tempted to eat the forbidden fruit because they would have nothing to gain
by disobeying God. So, since God's command not to eat the fruit of the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil was an inadequate and unfair test of the righteousness
of Adam and Eve if they already possessed the knowledge of good and evil,
God acted unjustly by making this command if they already had this knowledge.
On the other hand, if Adam and Eve did not know that obeying God is good and
disobeying God is evil, then they could not have known that it was wrong or evil
to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So, since God punished
Adam and Eve for doing something that they could not have known to be
wrong or evil, God acted unjustly by punishing them. It would appear to follow
that whether or not Adam and Eve knew that obeying God is good and disobeying
God is evil, God acted unjustly. But, then, God is just at one time and unjust at
another time. Consequently, being just is not a necessary or essential property of
God.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net