Coherent consubstantiality requires that 'substance' be predicated of the Trinity as a whole, with distinctions belonging only to relational properties, not to individuating substances.

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Reasons For

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Reason for

1.Substance must be singular to preserve divine simplicity and avoid tritheism; multiplying substances undermines monotheistic coherence.
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2.Relations (paternity, filiation, procession) can exhaustively ground personal distinction without requiring distinct substantial essences.
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3.Classical metaphysics treats substance as what persists through accidents; the Trinity's unity demands substance transcend numerical plurality.
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Reasons Against

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Reason against

1.Relational properties alone cannot ground real distinction; two beings sharing only relational differences remain indistinguishable in essence.
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2.Scripture attributes substance-level predicates to each person (Word is God, Spirit is God); collapsing these into relations contradicts the text.
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3.If substances are identical and only relations differ, the Trinity becomes conceptual rather than ontologically real—reducing it to modalism.
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Key Terms

Individuating substances(as used in metaphysics): The core essences or natures that make each distinct thing uniquely itself and separate from other things.
Predicated(used when discussing whether we can say 'motion' applies to something): Asserted or stated as true about something—when you say a quality or action 'belongs to' or 'applies to' something.
Trinity: # Trinity The Trinity is the Christian belief that God exists as three distinct persons—the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit—while remaining one God. These three are understood as co-equal and eternal, working together as a unified divine being. This concept is central to most Christian denominations, though different traditions interpret and explain it in various ways.
coherent(de Finetti's usage in the context of the Dutch Book argument for probabilism): A subject is coherent if their unconditional degrees of belief do not permit a Dutch Book (a guaranteed loss through a combination of bets) to be made against them
consubstantiality(Trinitarian theology; Nicene formula): The property of sharing the same substance or nature. Philoponus argues that consubstantiality only makes sense if applied to three distinct particular substances that each instantiate a shared universal nature
relational properties(Contrasted with intrinsic properties in the property-dualist two-aspects theory): Properties of objects that appear to us and are spatial and temporal
substance(Spinoza's metaphysics; criteria include (i) necessity and (ii) self-subsistence): The fundamental existent that is wholly necessary and self-subsistent, not depending on anything else for its existence

Connections

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Trinity1 linked Divine Attributes1 linked

Classical metaphysics treats substance as what persists through accidents; the T...If substances are identical and only relations differ, the Trinity becomes conce...

Details

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