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    Aquinas, Maimonides, and Avicenna converge on simplicity ... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→One reasonable response to the contradiction is to deny divine simplicity.

    Aquinas, Maimonides, and Avicenna converge on simplicity as the only coherent account of an uncaused first cause.

    ?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.Composition requires explanation: any entity with parts needs a cause explaining why those parts unite rather than remain separate.
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    • 2.An uncaused cause cannot depend on external explanation, so internal composition would require self-explanation, creating infinite regress.
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    • 3.Aquinas, Maimonides, and Avicenna explicitly identify simplicity as necessary to avoid the first cause being contingent on its own components.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Simplicity may be incoherent: how can a simple being possess distinct divine attributes (justice, mercy, knowledge) without composition?
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    • 2.These thinkers disagree significantly on simplicity's scope—Avicenna's essence-existence distinction suggests composition Aquinas rejects.
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    • 3.A simple, unchanging being cannot have knowledge of changing contingent facts without composition or potentiality, contradicting simplicity doctrine.
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    Divine Attributes1 linked

    Related

    A simple, unchanging being cannot have knowledge of changing contingent facts wi...An uncaused cause cannot depend on external explanation, so internal composition...Aquinas, Maimonides, and Avicenna explicitly identify simplicity as necessary to...Composition requires explanation: any entity with parts needs a cause explaining...
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    One reasonable response to the contradiction is to deny divine simplicity.Simplicity may be incoherent: how can a simple being possess distinct divine att...These thinkers disagree significantly on simplicity's scope—Avicenna's essence-e...

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    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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