Published 13-01-2025
Keywords
- A.N. Prior,
- Determinism,
- Moby Dick,
- Tense-logic,
- Dynamic view of time
- Realism ...More
How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2025 Logic and Philosophy of Time

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Abstract
This article presents three letters written by Arthur Norman Prior to his wife Mary from 29th April 1945. Numbered 131–133, they concern ‘the convolutions of necessitarianism’, and is an analysis of how Fatalism and Despair constitutes a central theme in Melville’s Moby Dick. The letters discuss Jonathan Edwards’ view on predestination and, Luis de Molina’s theory of scientia media. They are relevant for understanding Prior’s later discussion of determinism and reveal that he had carried out extensive theological studies of Molinism as part of his work on reformed theology, was influenced by Barth’s discussion of Molinism in Church Dogmatics and viewed Molinism as a precursor of Jonathan Edwards’ theory and rejected both as Beltistian schemes, i.e., as a defense of the idea that God has created the best of all possible worlds. This article argues that Prior’s early study of determinism reveals a strong influence of Karl Barth’s criticism of Molinism, which, in light of Prior’s early criticism of Barth’s philosophical idealism, explains why he either had to reject divine foreknowledge or accept what he considered an unorthodox view of divine foreknowledge.
References
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- Prior, A. N. First letter from Arthur to Mary, 29th April 1945: Letter 131, the Ann Prior Collection box 3, The Bodleian Library, Oxford. Published in The Digital Prior Archive: https://virtuallab.prior.aau.dk/first-letter-from-arthur-to-mary-29th-april-1945-letter-131
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- Prior, A. N. Third letter from Arthur to Mary, 29th April 1945: Letter 133, the Ann Prior Collection box 3, The Bodleian Library, Oxford. Published in The Digital Prior Archive: https://virtuallab.prior.aau.dk/third-letter-from-arthur-to-mary-29th-april-1945-letter-133