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Single Idea 16687

[filed under theme 26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 7. Later Matter Theories / c. Matter as extension ]

Full Idea

Bodies are those substances in which one finds three dimensions.

Gist of Idea

Bodies are three-dimensional substances

Source

Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], Ia Q18.2c), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 16.2

Book Ref

Pasnau,Robert: 'Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671' [OUP 2011], p.324

A Reaction

Pasnau points out that this extensional view of physical bodies was a commonplace long before Descartes. Presumably there are also non-dimensional substances (such as angels?).

The 61 ideas from 'Summa Theologicae'

22111 Aquinas attributes freedom to decisions and judgements, and not to the will alone [Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
22107 Sensations are transmitted to 'internal senses' in the brain, chiefly to 'phantasia' and 'imagination' [Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
8009 Aquinas wanted, not to escape desire, but to transform it for moral ends [Aquinas, by MacIntyre]
5508 Aquinas says a fertilized egg is not human, and has no immortal soul [Aquinas, by Martin/Barresi]
5614 If you assume that there must be a necessary being, you can't say which being has this quality [Kant on Aquinas]
20211 Life aims at the Beatific Vision - of perfect happiness, and revealed truth [Aquinas, by Zagzebski]
22106 Aquinas saw angels as separated forms, rather than as made of 'spiritual matter' [Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
21251 We can't know God's essence, so his existence can't be self-evident for us [Aquinas]
21248 If the existence of truth is denied, the 'Truth does not exist' must be true! [Aquinas]
21249 Some things are self-evident to us; others are only self-evident in themselves [Aquinas]
21250 A proposition is self-evident if the predicate is included in the essence of the subject [Aquinas]
9092 Abstracting A from B generates truth, as long as the connection is not denied [Aquinas]
9093 We understand the general nature of things by ignoring individual peculiarities [Aquinas]
9097 The mind abstracts generalities from images, but also uses images for understanding [Aquinas]
9095 Very general ideas (being, oneness, potentiality) can be abstracted from thought matter in general [Aquinas]
9096 The mind must produce by its own power an image of the individual species [Aquinas]
9094 Mathematical objects abstract both from perceived matter, and from particular substance [Aquinas]
9098 Mental activity combines what we sense with imagination of what is not present [Aquinas]
9099 Particular instances come first, and (pace Plato) generalisations are abstracted from them [Aquinas]
15812 Being implies distinctness, which implies division, unity, and multitude [Aquinas]
23306 Humans have a non-physical faculty of reason, so they can be immortal [Aquinas, by Sorabji]
22399 Temperance prevents our passions from acting against reason [Aquinas]
22112 For humans good is accordance with reason, and bad is contrary to reason [Aquinas]
22114 Tyrannical laws are irrational, and so not really laws [Aquinas]
22113 Right and wrong actions pertain to natural law, as perceived by practical reason [Aquinas]
16687 Bodies are three-dimensional substances [Aquinas]
16765 Humans only have a single substantial form, which contains the others and acts for them [Aquinas]
21337 A knowing being possesses a further reality, the 'presence' of the thing known [Aquinas]
21266 God does not exist, because He is infinite and good, and so no evil should be discoverable [Aquinas]
21274 It is part of God's supreme goodness that He brings good even out of evil [Aquinas]
21268 Non-human things are explicable naturally, and voluntary things by the will, so God is not needed [Aquinas]
21267 Supposing many principles is superfluous if a few will do it [Aquinas]
21269 Way 1: the infinite chain of potential-to-actual movement has to have a first mover [Aquinas]
21270 Way 2: no effect without a cause, and this cannot go back to infinity, so there is First Cause [Aquinas]
21271 Way 3: contingent beings eventually vanish, so continuity needs a necessary being [Aquinas]
21272 Way 4: the source of all qualities is their maximum, so something (God) causes all perfections [Aquinas]
21273 Way 5: mindless things act towards an obvious end, so there is an intelligent director [Aquinas]
22105 The human intellectual soul is an incorporeal, subsistent principle [Aquinas]
22108 First grasp what it is, then its essential features; judgement is their compounding and division [Aquinas]
7291 For Aquinas a war must be in a just cause, have proper authority, and aim at good [Aquinas, by Grayling]
23173 If a syllogism admits one absurdity, others must follow [Aquinas]
20224 Sensation prepares the way for intellectual knowledge, which needs the virtues of reason [Aquinas]
23174 Natural law is a rational creature's participation in eternal law [Aquinas]
23175 The conclusions of speculative reason about necessities are certain [Aquinas]
23176 Truth is universal, but knowledge of it is not [Aquinas]
4412 Those in bliss have their happiness increased by seeing the damned punished [Aquinas]
22494 We must know the end, know that it is the end, and know how to attain it [Aquinas]
23177 Justice directs our relations with others, because it denotes a kind of equality [Aquinas]
23178 Divine law commands some things because they are good, while others are good because commanded [Aquinas]
23179 People differ in their social degrees, and a particular type of right applies to each [Aquinas]
23180 The will is the rational appetite [Aquinas]
23181 All acts of virtue relate to justice, which is directed towards the common good [Aquinas]
23182 Legal justice is supreme, because it directs the other virtues to the common good [Aquinas]
20621 Types of lying: Speak lies, intend lies, intend deception, aim at deceptive goal? [Aquinas, by Tuckness/Wolf]
10505 We can just think of an apple's colour, because the apple is not part of the colour's nature [Aquinas]
10504 Abstracting either treats something as separate, or thinks of it separately [Aquinas]
10503 We abstract forms from appearances, and acquire knowledge of immaterial things [Aquinas]
10506 Mathematics can be abstracted from sensible matter, and from individual intelligible matter [Aquinas]
10507 Numbers and shapes are abstracted by ignoring their sensible qualities [Aquinas]
10508 Species are abstracted from appearances by ignoring individual conditions [Aquinas]
10509 Understanding consists entirely of grasping abstracted species [Aquinas]