22106
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Aquinas saw angels as separated forms, rather than as made of 'spiritual matter' [Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
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Full Idea:
Unlike some of his contemporaries, Aquinas does not think that there is a 'spiritual matter' that angels or disembodied souls have as one of their components, but rather that they are separated forms that configure no matter at all.
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From:
report of Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265]) by Kretzmann/Stump - Aquinas, Thomas 10
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A reaction:
'Separated forms' sounds like the modern concept of abstract entities, meaning that souls and angels exist in the way that platonists believe numbers exist. How else might Aquinas have understood them?
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23306
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Humans have a non-physical faculty of reason, so they can be immortal [Aquinas, by Sorabji]
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Full Idea:
Aquinas infers from Aristotle that intellectual understanding is the only operation of the soul that is performed without a physical organ, so that only human souls, and not animal ones, can be immortal.
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From:
report of Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], I, q75, a3, resp) by Richard Sorabji - Rationality 'Reason'
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A reaction:
This shows why so many thinkers are desperate to hang on to dualism, of some sort. Interesting that he only claims partial dualism.
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21266
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God does not exist, because He is infinite and good, and so no evil should be discoverable [Aquinas]
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Full Idea:
If one of two contraries be infinite, the other would be altogether destroyed. But the name God means that He is infinite goodness. If therefore God existed there would be no evil discoverable; but there is evil in the world. Therefore God does not exist.
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From:
Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], Ia,Q02,Art3,Ob1)
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A reaction:
This is not, of course, the opinion of Aquinas. I love the way he states the opposition's arguments so lucidly. The modern problem usually talks of God's omnipotence, rather than infinity. His formulation allows that there might be undiscoverable evil.
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21274
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It is part of God's supreme goodness that He brings good even out of evil [Aquinas]
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Full Idea:
As Augustine says, God would not allow any evil to exist in his works, unless he were to bring good even out of evil. It is part of the infinite goodness of God, that He allows evil to exist and out of it produces good.
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From:
Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], Ia,Q02,Art3,Ob1rep)
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A reaction:
Are God's powers so limited that He could not have achieved an equal amount of good without having to indulge in some evil first?
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