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
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Aquinas's doctrine of divine simplicity entails that God has no parts, properties, or distinctions, making 'infinite properties' an incoherent description of God.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.We can coherently distinguish God's justice from His mercy without positing real metaphysical composition—these are conceptual distinctions.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Strict simplicity makes God's freedom and agency unintelligible: how can an undifferentiated unity perform distinct acts or possess knowledge?
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.'Infinite properties' might mean God possesses every possible perfection without limitation, which doesn't entail mereological composition.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Divine simplicity follows necessarily from God being the ultimate ground of being; any composition would imply dependence on parts.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If God possessed distinct properties, these would be real entities that God depends on, contradicting His absolute self-sufficiency.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.'Infinite properties' language treats infinity as a quantity of discrete items, which is incoherent whether finite or infinite in number.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

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