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    God is neither a universal (genus or species) nor an indi... — Carmelics
    Home/Divine Attributes
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    God is neither a universal (genus or species) nor an individual falling under a universal

    Against an attribute of GodDivine Attributes
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    2 reasons against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.God is absolutely simple
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    • 2.Genera and species are composite
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    • 3.Individuals falling under genera or species have a quiddity or definition, and therefore compositeness
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    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Porphyry's Isagoge establishes that 'being' functions as a genus-like category applicable to God and creatures in Neoplatonic theology.
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    • 2.If 'being' is predicated univocally of God and creatures, God falls under a maximally general category, contradicting the claim.
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    • 3.Avicenna's distinction between existence and essence applies even to God, implying God has a quiddity that could ground generic predication.
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    Reason against 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Duns Scotus argues that 'being' is univocally predicated of God and creatures, making God fall under a transcendental quasi-genus.
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    • 2.If univocity of being holds, then God shares at minimum a formal common nature with creatures, undermining the sharp exclusion from universals.
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    • 3.Absolute simplicity does not preclude formal distinctions, as Scotus's formal distinction allows real conceptual differentiation within a simple being.
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    Topics

    Divine AttributesAgainst an attribute of God

    Connections

    1 topic

    Modality & Possibility2 linked

    Related

    Absolute simplicity does not preclude formal distinctions, as Scotus's formal di...Avicenna's distinction between existence and essence applies even to God, implyi...Duns Scotus argues that 'being' is univocally predicated of God and creatures, m...Genera and species are composite
    +6 moreShow less
    God is absolutely simpleIf 'being' is predicated univocally of God and creatures, God falls under a maxi...If univocity of being holds, then God shares at minimum a formal common nature w...Individuals falling under genera or species have a quiddity or definition, and t...Porphyry's Isagoge establishes that 'being' functions as a genus-like category a...What is absolutely simple cannot be composite

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: william-auvergne
    View source passageHide passage
    God's absolute simplicity also entails that he is neither a universal (i.e., neither a genus nor species), nor an individual falling under such. For, William argues, genera and species are themselves composite, and the individuals that fall under them have a quiddity or definition and therefore compositeness. Nevertheless, William thinks God is an individual, since he holds that all that exists is either a universal or an individual (OO I, 855ab).
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (1 for, 2 against)
    Edits
    1 edit