Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Aquinas holds that God's providence operates through seco... — Carmelics
    Home
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    Part of a larger discussion

    Challenges→God does not give graces by particular volitions

    Aquinas holds that God's providence operates through secondary causes, meaning particular volitions can work through contingent creaturely responses.

    ?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.If God is truly omnipotent, He can achieve His purposes through creatures' free choices without determining those choices.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Creatures acting on their own inclinations and reasons preserves genuine creaturely agency and avoids making God responsible for evil.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Secondary causation is metaphysically coherent: divine and creaturely causes operate at different levels without competition.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.If God's providence genuinely ensures particular outcomes, then creaturely choices cannot be contingent—they must be divinely determined.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Explaining how God's particular volitions reliably produce effects through genuinely free creatures requires mechanisms Aquinas never adequately specifies.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.The distinction between primary and secondary causation may obscure rather than resolve the tension between divine omniscience and creaturely freedom.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Sign in or register to share your perspective on this statement.

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.

    Connections

    2 topics

    Against an attribute of God1 linkedDivine Attributes1 linked

    Related

    Creatures acting on their own inclinations and reasons preserves genuine creatur...Explaining how God's particular volitions reliably produce effects through genui...God does not give graces by particular volitionsIf God is truly omnipotent, He can achieve His purposes through creatures' free ...
    +3 moreShow less
    If God's providence genuinely ensures particular outcomes, then creaturely choic...Secondary causation is metaphysically coherent: divine and creaturely causes ope...The distinction between primary and secondary causation may obscure rather than ...

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit