PHIL-357 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Theism, Polytheism
Document Summary
Human versus gods mercy: human mercy involves benefitting other humans; even if one must put one in pain, they ultimately benefit (ie immunization, surgery). In her experience of god, the promise of afterlife is meaningless [43] Gods infinit(cid:455) doesn"t (cid:396)e(cid:395)ui(cid:396)e an afte(cid:396)life; one (cid:272)an (cid:272)onne(cid:272)t (cid:449)ith his infiniteness (cid:449)ithout needing an afterlife. Human mercy aims at some good for other human being or our own. You are merciful to another being when you relieve suffering in the long term or extend their joy. Gods mercy can be joy, but more important is affliction (the greatest form of gods mercy). Weil conveys that if one comes through affliction intact as a good being (still just,compassionate), creates contact between human and god. Gods mercy can result in suffering/affliction without any seeming external benefits. But if one can continue to love through the affliction, one gains a stronger love connection (ie one with god)
