Newcomb’s Paradox thus serves as an illustrative vindication of the compatibility of divine foreknowledge and human freedom. A proper understanding of the counterfactual conditionals involved enables us to see that the pastness of God’s knowledge serves neither to make God’s beliefs counterfactually closed nor to rob us of genuine freedom. It is evident that our decisions determine God’s past beliefs about those decisions and do so without invoking an objectionable backward causation. It is also clear that in the context of foreknowledge, backtracking counterfactuals are entirely appropriate and that no alteration of the past occurs. With the justification of the one box strategy, the death of theological fatalism seems ensured.
It’s perhaps worth noting that Craig is far from the only theologian who uses insights from decision theory to better understand the nature of God, and vice versa. No one knows what philosophy doesn’t know.
William Lane Craig tackles Newcomb’s problem. Back from 1987 or so. Figured this would maybe interest people who’ve read User:lukeprog’s old blog. The conclusion:
It’s perhaps worth noting that Craig is far from the only theologian who uses insights from decision theory to better understand the nature of God, and vice versa. No one knows what philosophy doesn’t know.