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The perfections constitutive of the divine nature are ide... — Carmelics

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The perfections constitutive of the divine nature are identical with one another.

Divine Attributes

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1 reason for

2 reasons against

Reasons For

1 perspective

Reason for

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1.Perfect power is identical to God.
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2.Perfect knowledge is identical to God.
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3.Similarly for each other divine perfection.
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Reasons Against

2 perspectives

Reason against 1 of 2

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1.Aquinas's own analogical theory of divine predication holds that terms like 'wise' and 'powerful' differ in ratio (formal concept) even when attributed to God.
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2.If the divine perfections differ in ratio—as Aquinas himself concedes—then the identity claim collapses the real conceptual distinctions that make meaningful theological predication possible.
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3.A doctrine that renders all positive divine attributes semantically equivalent undermines the explanatory purpose of attributing distinct perfections to God in the first place.
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Reason against 2 of 2

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1.Omnipotence is defined by its modal relation to possible states of affairs, while omniscience is defined by its relation to propositions—these are irreducibly distinct intentional structures.
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2.Two properties with distinct satisfaction conditions and distinct logical roles cannot be numerically identical, even if necessarily coextensive in a single being.
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Divine Attributes

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A doctrine that renders all positive divine attributes semantically equivalent u...Aquinas's own analogical theory of divine predication holds that terms like 'wis...If each perfection is identical to God, then each perfection is identical to eve...If the divine perfections differ in ratio—as Aquinas himself concedes—then the i...

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Omnipotence is defined by its modal relation to possible states of affairs, whil...Perfect knowledge is identical to God.Perfect power is identical to God.Similarly for each other divine perfection.Two properties with distinct satisfaction conditions and distinct logical roles ...

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Therefore, any two perfections are always compatible with one another81%Similarly for each other divine perfection.80%In spiritual perfections, the subject inheres in the perfection rather...80%If each perfection is identical to God, then each perfection is identi...80%

Source

AI-extracted

SEP: divine-simplicity

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Thus there appears to be justification for the move from perfect power = {God} to perfect power = God. And similarly for perfect knowledge, etc. In this way one can render coherent the notion that the perfections constitutive of the divine nature are identical with one another. For if each is identical to God, then each is identical to every other one.

Details

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