Religious Language: Analogy, Via Negativa, and Aquinas' Theories

Analogy

An attempt to explain the meaning of something by comparison with an example more familiar to us.

Via negativa

A method of describing God by stating what God isn't rather than what God is.

Univocal language

Language meaning exactly the same thing in all situations.

Equivocal language

Language meaning different things in different situations.

William Paley's watchmaker analogy

An analogy explaining the teleology of the universe by comparing its design to an intricate mechanism, suggesting God is like a watchmaker.

Aquinas on Analogy

Aquinas believed that analogy would be a good compromise to explain God, avoiding the difficulties of univocal and equivocal language.

Analogy of Attribution

One of the three forms of analogy described by Aquinas, where the world contains a measure of goodness, being God's creation.

Proper proportion

One of the three forms of analogy described by Aquinas.

Improper proportion

One of the three forms of analogy described by Aquinas.

Teleology

The explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by postulated causes.

Aquinas' view on language

Aquinas argued that we cannot speak of God univocally or equivocally, needing a way to use language as an indirect description of God.

Aquinas' rejection of via negativa

Aquinas rejected via negativa alone as he believed there are some positive things that can be said about God.

The acorn and the oak tree analogy

An analogy used by Aquinas to illustrate that all things in nature are directed by God to an end or purpose, 'not fortuitously but designedly'.

The arrow and the archer analogy

An analogy used by Aquinas to explain the relationship between God and creation.

Problem with univocal language

If we say 'that lesson was good', then 'good' means something different from 'God is good', since God is perfect and infinite.

Problem with equivocal language

If 'God is good' means something completely different from any other 'good', then God would be unintelligible.

Aquinas' concern

Aquinas was concerned by the problem of explaining God in human language, as God is supposedly perfect and infinite.

Partial knowledge of God

By finding appropriate analogical language, Aquinas thought we could say broadly what God is like, giving us partial but justifiable knowledge of God.

Three types of language according to Aquinas

Univocal, equivocal, and analogical.

Example of equivocal language

The word 'gay' can mean very different things: 'happy', 'homosexual', or (among some students) 'not very good'.

Example of univocal language

In the phrases 'black cat', 'black hat', 'black mat', 'black' means the same thing.

Aquinas' analogy approach

Aquinas thought that analogy would avoid the difficulties of univocal and equivocal language.

God's description challenge

The challenge of describing God arises because God is perfect and infinite, which might defy description.

Analogy of God's goodness

Aquinas thought that we could gain understanding of God by considering his role as creator.

Analogy of proper proportion

John Hick develops Aquinas' views, stating that humans possess God's qualities because we are created in his image, but in a lesser proportion.

Example of faithfulness

Humans can be faithful to each other, while dogs can also be faithful, but there is a great difference between this quality in a person and in an animal.

Dim and imperfect likeness

There is a dim and imperfect likeness in the dog, as there is between us and God.

Analogy of improper proportion

An analogy which is just a metaphor and does not really deal with proportionate qualities.

Example of improper proportion

'God is a rock' ignores essential differences in qualities for the sake of a loose comparison.

Criticisms of Aquinas' idea

Criticisms may arise regarding whether humans were created 'in the image and likeness of God' as challenged by Darwin's theory of evolution.

Anthropomorphism

The question of whether we can really apply words we use about ourselves to God.

Evil as an analogy to God

We might wonder whether the evil in our world is also an analogy to God, which could make a perfectly good God impossible.

Theodicy

A theodicy, such as Augustine's, could resolve the problem of evil in relation to God.

Criticism from verification

We could criticise analogy from the standpoint of verification, since God cannot be verified.

Richard Swinburne's criticism

Swinburne criticises Aquinas for producing an unnecessary theory, claiming we can speak of God and humans as 'good' univocally.

Essential quality of goodness

God and humans possess goodness in different ways, but it is still the same essential quality.

Aquinas' analogy

Aquinas' analogy suggests that the world reflects God's goodness, but this reflection is indirect and incomplete.

Order of reference

God's goodness is foremost because he is the source of this quality, while the world has goodness only in a secondary respect.

Health analogy

The health of a bull is present in its urine; we can tell that the bull is healthy by studying this, but the health is only complete in the bull itself.

Limitations of analogy

What the world tells us of God's goodness is meaningful, but it is also limited.

Genesis 2

The biblical reference indicating that humans are created in God's image.

Faithfulness in animals

Dogs can exhibit faithfulness, but the quality is different compared to that in humans.

Criticism of proportionate analogy

There may be disputes about the validity of humans being created in the image of God.

Stupid mechanic

Hume's argument suggesting that the existence of evil challenges the notion of a perfectly good God.

Meaningful way to talk about God

The question of whether analogies are a useful way of talking about God.

Usefulness of analogies

Are analogies a useful way of talking about God?