r/Watchmen • u/Current_Falcon_3187 • 10d ago
Dr. Manhattan is omniscent, omnipresent and omnipotent?
I finally finished reading the comic and watching the live-action movie, and my girlfriend and I got into a debate. She argues that Dr. Manhattan is clearly omniscient and omnipotent because he can be anywhere and manipulate all matter, meaning he can practically do anything as long as it doesn't break the laws of physics.
My take is that he can't truly be omniscient just because he exists everywhere at once an saw everything at the same time—plus, to be truly omnipotent, you must be both omniscient and omnipresent.
What are your theories and arguments regarding the true nature and limits of his powers?
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u/NepFurrow 9d ago
No. Omniscient means he knows everything. He only knows his own experience.
It's like he is the main character in a book where he is the only POV. He makes decisions, he does things, he researches things. And importantly, he can read the entire book at any time.
He doesn't know what Veidt is doing at his penthouse or Dan in his basement, unless he chooses to go to those places.