Q&A: Is God Subject to Logic?
Is God Subject to Logic?
Question
Hello, I wanted to know the Rabbi’s position regarding the question of whether God is subject to logic. (Or, to avoid excessive anthropomorphism: does logic have an objective dimension in reality?) For example, one cannot grant free choice and also prevent the problem of evil, the issue of knowledge and free choice, and so on.
Because the answer “No, but we simply can’t understand it with our human minds” is quite an evasion, and it could be given as a knockout answer to any question of faith / belief—and in my opinion that is precisely its weakness.
On the other hand, if the answer is yes, does that mean He is limited?
Thank you.
Answer
He is not limited. A limitation is an inability to do something defined. But what is undefined is simply not defined. It is impossible both to do and not to do it. He cannot make a square circle, because there is no such thing and there cannot be such a thing.
I’ve already discussed this here several times. See, for example, here:
https://mikyab.net/%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%A9%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%90%D7%91%D7%9F/