Lee University School of Religion will host a lecture by Professor of Philosophy Dr. Linda Zagzebski on Thursday from 4–5 p.m. in the Jones’ Lecture Hall.
In her lecture titled "Omnisubjectivity," Dr. Zagzebski explores the implications of God's omniscience. If God is omniscient, it would seem that God must know what it is like to experience the world the way you experience it. But is it possible to perfectly grasp another person’s subjective conscious states?
Dr. Zagzebski argues that it is possible, proposing that God has a complete and perfect grasp of every conscious state of every being that has ever lived–or will live. God grasps this consciousness from the perspective of the creature, and “sees through your eyes” so to speak. She calls this attribute, “omnisubjectivity” and she argues that it follows from the traditional doctrine that God is all-knowing, and is implicit in the common practices of Christian prayer.
Her lecture will conclude with a discussion of several metaphysical, moral, and theological consequences of divine omnisubjectivity.
Dr. Zagzebski is the George Lynn Cross Research Professor of Philosophy and Kingfisher College Chair of the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at the University of Oklahoma. From 2005-2008, she served as president of the Society of Christian Philosophers.
Dr. Zagzebski’s writing and research have focused on topics within the philosophy of religion, epistemology, and ethics. Publications include The Dilemma of Freedom and Foreknowledge, Virtues of the Mind, and Divine Motivation Theory.
Her most recent work is based on the lectures she delivered at Oxford University in the spring of 2010, entitled, Epistemic Authority: A Theory of Trust, Authority, and Autonomy in Belief.
This event is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.
The Jones Lecture Hall is located in Lee’s School of Religion, Room 113.
For more information, contact the School of Religion at 303-5080.