Editing Omnipotence paradox (section)

== Types of omnipotence ==
{{Main|Omnipotence}}

[[Augustine of Hippo]] in his [[City of God (book)|City of God]] writes "[[God]] is called omnipotent on account of His doing what He wills" and thus proposes the definition that "Y is omnipotent" means "If Y wishes to do X then Y can and does do X". 
 
The notion of omnipotence can also be applied to an entity in different ways. An essentially omnipotent being is an entity that is necessarily omnipotent. In contrast, an accidentally omnipotent being is an entity that can be omnipotent for a temporary period of time, and then becomes non-omnipotent. The omnipotence paradox can be applied to each type of being differently.<ref name="Hoffman">{{Cite web|last1=Hoffman |first1=Joshua |last2=Rosenkrantz |first2=Gary|title=Omnipotence |url=https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2002/entries/omnipotence/|access-date=2023-02-08|website=[[Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy]], Summer 2002 Edition}}</ref>

In addition, some philosophers have considered the assumption that a being is either omnipotent or non-omnipotent to be a [[false dilemma]], as it neglects the possibility of varying degrees of omnipotence.<ref name=Haeckel1>[[Ernst Haeckel|Haeckel, Ernst]]. ''The Riddle of the Universe.'' Harper and Brothers, 1900.</ref> Some modern approaches to the problem have involved [[semantics|semantic]] debates over whether language—and therefore philosophy—can meaningfully address the concept of omnipotence itself.<ref>[[Ludwig Wittgenstein|Wittgenstein, Ludwig.]] [[Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus]] (6.41 and following)</ref>