Analogy

In what ways did Aquinas agree with the Via Negativa?

The fact that humans are fundamentally unable to know God

How did Aquinas say that we could talk about God positively ?

If we speak analogically

What does Univocal mean?

Words which only have one meaning

why can we not use univocal language to speak of God?

We cant apply the same word to God as we do for humans because God is transcendent

What does Equivocal mean?

Words which have different meanings

Why does using equivocal language fail when speaking of God?

We cannot understand God so we wouldn’t know what the word means when applied to God- would be meaningless

What is the “middle ground” for aquinas?

We are like God- we are made in Gods imagine and likeness- we are analogous to God

What does the Analogy of Attribution argue ?

That we can attribute qualities to the creator of a thing that are are analogous to those of its creation

What example does Aquinas use to demonstrate the analogy of attribution ?

Bulls urine- If the urine of a bull is healthy we can conclude the bull has an analogous quality of health

What does Analogy of Proportion argue ?

The analogy of proportion argues that a being has a quality in a degree relative to its being- God is the greatest being and has qualities to a greater degree of proportion than humans. Gods love/power/knowledge is like ours but proportionally greater

what does analogical language respect ?

Gods transcendence

What is an issue with God having qualities that are analogous to ours ?

Humans are not perfect and have qualities such as greed and hatred- following aquinas argument God would have these qualities too

How can you argue against the weakness that God must also have bad qualities since humans do to?

The original sin corrupted human nature and caused bad human qualities— analogy only refers to human qualities we had when God first created us in his likeness

What is Aquinas’ theory of analogy based on?

Natural theology which makes us use human reason to gain knowledge about God

What knowledge does Aquinas say human reason can gain?

lesser knowledge of God

What can natural theology support according to Aquinas?

Faith

Who would critique Aquinas’ use of reason and natural theology ?

Karl Barth and Augustine

What did Karl Barth/Augustine claim corrupted our reason?

The original sin

What does Barth call anything that is discovered through reason in relation to God?

Whatever humans discover through reason is not divine

What can idolatry lead to according to Barth?

Worship of nations and movements like the Nazis

What “three goods” did human nature contain pre fall according to Aquinas?

1. Properties of human soul (eg. Rationality)

2. Inclination towards the good

3. Original Justice- perfect rational control over the soul

What did the original sin completely destroy according to Aquinas?

original justice- no longer have complete control over our desires

What can sometimes be natural for humans?

Concupiscence

How does Aquinas say the original sin can diminish our inclination towards the good?

By creating a habit of acting against it

How can Aquinas be seen to have a balanced and realistic view?

By acknowledging that our nature contains both good and bad and we choose to act rightly

what has humanity’s belief that it has the ability to know anything of God led to?

The same arrogance that led Adam and Eve to disobey God

What has the belief that humans have the power to figure out what is right/wrong led to?

Movements such as the Nazis

what does Aquinas successfully find a middle way between?

Univocal language and Equivocal language

what do humans not have which is required analogy to be meaningful?

The required knowledge for analogies to be meaningful

How does aquinas believe that analogy is justified ?

through the analogy of attribution (depends on the approach of natural theology being valid)

What type of language does Aquinas defend?

cognitive religious language

What are Christian’s unlikely to think of religious language as ?

Analogically

What are the three main criticisms for Analogy?

1. May attribute bad qualities to God

2. Reliance on reason

3. Lack of knowledge to know whether analogy is accurate

What are the 3 main strengths of analogy ?

1. doesn’t anthropomorphise God

2. based on natural theology- supports faithMiddle way between Univocal and equivocal language

3. Middle way between Univocal language and Equivocal language

What does Vincent Brummer argue on the analogy of proportion?

we are making assumptions which we lack the necessary knowledge to make

What does Brummer say we dont have the ability to do in relation or analogy of attribution?

We have no ability to determine what we might attribute to God if he is unknown to us

What is Ian Ramsey’s disclosure situation?

an event which revels something beyond the bare facts of the case

what does Frederick Ferre say we need to concentrate on ?

How words need to be used carefully

What does frederick’s approach remind us of?

Analogy tells us what words about God do, how they function in our language without pretending that we have understood their full meaning