The Reluctant Theologian Podcast Ep. 148 Omnisubjectivity and Panentheism with Linda Zagzebski
May 22, 2024
Linda Zagzebski, expert in omnisubjectivity and panentheism, discusses exploring God's subjective nature, divine empathy, and the intersection of subjectivity and objectivity. The conversation touches on the limits of human empathy, contemporary debates in religious epistemology, and God's ability to withhold knowledge.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Empathy Model
- The empathy model describes omnisubjectivity as a perfect, total empathy for all conscious states.
- However, empathy creates a distance between the empathizer and the target, potentially limiting the model.
Panentheistic Model
- Panentheism posits that the world is within God, though "within" is a metaphor needing clarification.
- A panentheistic omnisubjectivity model places our consciousness within God's, addressing the problem of knowing without being.
Historical Precedents
- Ryan Hecker suggests that omnisubjectivity might be an old idea, citing figures like Meister Eckhart.
- Zagzebski acknowledges potential early versions but emphasizes the recent focus on subjective experience in philosophy.