Avicenna and Thomas Aquinas on the Possibility of Talking about God

Mehmet Ata AZ

doi:https://doi.org/10.12730/13091719.2013.42.84

Article Details

Avicenna and Thomas Aquinas on the Possibility of Talking about God

Authors:

Mehmet Ata AZ

Publisher:

Bursa İlahiyat Vakfı

Main Topics:

Religions (General)

Journal:

Ilahiyat Studies 2013 Vol.4 Issue 2, pp.149-181

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2014

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2000784150

Frequency:

Bi-Annual

eISSN:

1309-1719

pISSN:

1309-1786

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12730/13091719.2013.42.84

Abstract:

 


The most important claim of the thesis of the divine simplicity is that the daily expressions of language, which are constructed in reference to the material and composite beings, are not deep enough in the meaning, to the degree that one may not directly use them when talking about God. This claim, which is about the meaning mode of references to God and the insufficiency of the form of reference, has brought about the problem of what sort of language must be used when talking about God. This study addresses the question of what kind and to what degree the resemblance of the caused beings to the final cause (God) – a resemblance that they possess in their natures – allows human beings to talk about the final cause. While the study presents an analysis of the views of Avicenna and Aquinas on talking about God, examining the differences and similarities between them, it will not give a detailed account of their dispute on the distinction between essence and existence in God.

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Article Details

Avicenna and Thomas Aquinas on the Possibility of Talking about God

Authors: Mehmet Ata AZ

Publisher: Bursa İlahiyat Vakfı

Main Topics: Religions (General)

Journal: Ilahiyat Studies 2013 Vol.4 Issue 2, pp.149-181

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2014

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2000784150

Frequency: Bi-Annual

eISSN: 1309-1719

pISSN: 1309-1786

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12730/13091719.2013.42.84

Issues

Authors:

Mehmet Ata AZ

Publisher:

Bursa İlahiyat Vakfı

Main Topics:

Religions (General)

Journal:

Ilahiyat Studies 2013 Vol.4 Issue 2, pp.149-181

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2014

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2000784150

Frequency:

Bi-Annual

eISSN:

1309-1719

pISSN:

1309-1786

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12730/13091719.2013.42.84