The omnipotence paradox is a philosophical paradox which arises when attempting to apply logic to the notion of an omnipotent being. The paradox is based around the question of whether or not an omnipotent being is able to perform actions that would limit its own omnipotence, thus becoming non-omnipotent. Some philosophers see this argument as proof of the impossibility of the existence of any such entity; others assert that the paradox arises from a misunderstanding or mischaracterization of the concept of omnipotence. In addition, several philosophers have considered the assumption that a being is either omnipotent or non-omnipotent to be a false dilemma, as it neglects the possibility of varying degrees of omnipotence. Often, the paradox is formulated in terms of the God of the Abrahamic religions, though this is not a requirement. Since the Middle Ages, philosophers have phrased the paradox in many ways, of which the classic example is, "Could an omnipotent being create a rock so heavy that even that being could not lift it?" This particular statement has subtle flaws, but as the most famous version, it still serves adequately for illustrating the different ways the paradox has been analyzed. (more...)
Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnipotence_paradox
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1768: Philip Astley staged the first modern circus in London. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/circus_%28performing_art%29)
1839: The French Academy of Sciences announced the Daguerreotype photographic process, named after its inventor, Louis Daguerre. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daguerreotype)
1878: Humbert the Good became King of Italy. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umberto_I_of_Italy)
1916: World War I: In Gallipoli, the Ottoman Empire was victorious in the Battle of Çanakkale. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gallipoli)
1964: Martyrs' Day in Panama. 4 days of fighting between US armed forces and panamanian civillians to end the Canal Zone. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrs%27_Day)
_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:
"Life will not perish! It will begin anew with love; it will start out naked and tiny; it will take root in the wilderness, and to it all that we did and built will mean nothing — our towns and factories, our art, our ideas will all mean nothing, and yet life will not perish! Only we have perished. Our houses and machines will be in ruins, our systems will collapse, and the names of our great will fall away like dry leaves. Only you, love, will blossom on this rubbish heap and commit the seed of life to the winds." -- Karel Čapek (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Karel_%C3%84%C5%92apek)