Maximally Great Being and Abstract Necessary Entity Are Mutually Exclusive

1. 01Define the thesis precisely

   completed

   Define the thesis precisely as a claim of mutual exclusivity between two necessary beings.

2. 02Identify assumptions and key terms

   completed

   Identify key terms: maximal greatness, personal being, necessary abstract entity, and assumptions about uniqueness.

3. 03Specify supporting and opposing evidence

   completed

   Specify that supporting evidence should show incompatibility, opposing evidence should show compatibility.

4. 04Gather primary and secondary sources

   completed

   Gather sources: ontological arguments for a necessary deity and determinables discussion for abstract entities.

5. 05Extract claims and relevant evidence

   completed

   Extract relevant claims: God as necessary perfect being; abstract features less than maximally specific.

6. 06Evaluate source reliability and verify claims

   inconclusive

   Evaluate reliability: SEP entries are reputable; excerpts are brief and do not directly address coexistence.

7. 07Construct the strongest supporting argument

   completed

   Construct supporting argument using maximal greatness implying uniqueness.

8. 08Construct the strongest opposing argument

   completed

   Construct opposing argument using category distinction between personal and abstract entities.

9. 09Test logical structure and assumptions

   completed

   Test logical structure: check whether premises adequately support conclusions and note assumptions.

10. 10Compare competing explanations

    completed

    Compare alternatives: theistic only, abstract only, dual necessity, each with a discriminating criterion.

11. 11Record unresolved issues

    completed

    Record unresolved issues: status of abstract entities as 'beings', scope of maximal greatness, lack of direct source conflict.

12. 12Produce the current assessment

    completed

    Produce the current assessment: underdetermined due to insufficient decisive evidence.

No revisions recorded.