MYSTERIANISM ABOUT CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE TRINITY
MYSTERIANISM ABOUT CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE TRINITY

Summary/Abstract: In this article, I state some parallels between naturalist mysterianism in the philosophy of mind (NM) and strict trinitarian mysterianism in theology (ST). In the first part, I characterize the hard problem of consciousness (HP): the problem of how consciousness can be natural; mysterianism about consciousness (M): humans cannot know that; and naturalism about consciousness (N): consciousness is natural. NM, defended by Colin McGinn, is the conjunction of N and M. I undermine McGinn’s argument for M and develop another one. I explain why M is no strong evidence against N. In the second part, I find an analogue of NM in ST. I characterize the logical problem of the Trinity (LP): the problem of how God can be triune; and strict mysterianism about the Trinity (S): humans cannot know that (without a vision from God). Considering the claim that God is triune (T), ST is the conjunction of S and T. I find ST to be stated by Vojtěch Šanda. I undermine Šanda’s philosophical argument for S and develop another one, parallel to the one I develop for M. Finally I explain why S is no strong evidence against T.

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