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    Aquinas and the Scholastic tradition distinguish between ... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→God must create a world

    Aquinas and the Scholastic tradition distinguish between God's absolute power (potentia absoluta) and ordained power, holding creation is radically contingent.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.God's absolute power must exceed ordained power, else God's omnipotence is logically limited by his own decrees.
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    • 2.Creation's radical contingency preserves human freedom: if creation were necessary, creatures would be determined by God's nature.
      ?

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    • 3.The distinction explains why God can act outside natural laws (miracles) while maintaining creation's rational order.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.The potentia absoluta/ordinata distinction introduces an incoherent division within God's unified, simple will.
      ?

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    • 2.If God ordained creation as it is, calling it 'radically contingent' is misleading—it is necessary relative to God's will.
      ?

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    • 3.The doctrine generates the problem it solves: if God could have willed differently, his perfection and necessity seem compromised.
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    Connections

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    Natural Theology1 linkedDivine Attributes1 linked

    Related

    Creation's radical contingency preserves human freedom: if creation were necessa...God must create a worldGod's absolute power must exceed ordained power, else God's omnipotence is logic...If God ordained creation as it is, calling it 'radically contingent' is misleadi...
    +3 moreShow less
    The distinction explains why God can act outside natural laws (miracles) while m...The doctrine generates the problem it solves: if God could have willed different...The potentia absoluta/ordinata distinction introduces an incoherent division wit...

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    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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