Simpson, Morag Macdonald (2001) Thomas Aquinas' concept of freedom in the context of his ...

344 Pages·2009·13.92 MB·English

Simpson, Morag Macdonald (2001) Thomas Aquinas' concept of freedom
in the context of his treatment of God's knowledge of future contingents.
PhD thesis.

http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2046/

Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author

A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or
study, without prior permission or charge

This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first
obtaining permission in writing from the Author

The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any
format or medium without the formal permission of the Author

When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the
author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given

Glasgow Theses Service
http://theses.gla.ac.uk/
[email protected]
Thomas Aquinas'concept freedom
in
the
of
his
treatment God's knowledge
context of of
of
future
contingents.
Morag Macdonald Simpson
for
A thesis in fulfilment the
submitted of requirements
the degree Doctor Philosophy.
of of
The University Glasgow
of
Department Philosophy
of
December 2001
0 Morag Macdonald'Simpson 2001
2
Abstract
This thesis Thomas Aquinas'concept
examines of
human freedom in the his treatment God's
context of of
knowledge future
of contingents.
Much has been Aquinas'attempt to
written about solve
the how humans freely if God knows
problem of can act
future things, but little that
all of work comments on a
in his
treatment the
major underlying assumption of
human freedom
the
problem namely, concept of pre-
-
This thesis therefore to the
supposed. seeks establish
the freedom that Aquinas in
nature of was assuming
the important discussions God's knowledge future
of of
contingents.
Chapter 1
Aquinas' the
sets out statement of problem
his to it, that God is time, he
and
solution since outside
knows
things future but 'present';
not as as and
knowing
'present' imposes itself.
x as no necessity on x
Some
Aquinas' is It is
criticism
of solution reviewed.
that Aquinas' to imply
noted
although approach seems
freedom includes
the
a concept of which possibility of
doing does, interpretations
than
otherwise one other are
It is
that
possible. noted also modem commentators
hold differing
Aquinas'
views on what concept of
freedom is.
Chapter 2 link between
the
examines contingency and
freedom the that, for Aquinas,
and makes point
in human behaviour from
to
contingency seems arise
the human bringing things i.
peculiarly way of about e.
by As to looking his
voluntary action. a preliminary at
Aquinas' distinction
analysis of voluntary action,
between 'human 'acts is
acts' and of a man' noted and a
further distinction drawn between 'simply' 'fully'
and
It is
the
voluntary acts. concluded nature of
ithat
freedom be found in- Aquinas' description human,
will
of
fully
voluntary, acts;.
or -
3
in
The
elements of voluntary action are considered
inner
Chapter 3, two
and main elements an principle
-
knowledge the to is
of motion and of end which action
directed identified The
and examined. nature and
-
the the human
operation of will, principle of motion of
is in detail. Aquinas' distinctions
action, considered
between human highlighted
to
animal and action are
bring the key that the is determined
out point will only
to the in to
good general, and not any particular good.
Further key identified that thing
are every may
points
be be
thing
accepted or rejected, since every may seen
both bad in different that
as good and respects, and
his judgment is 'good'. These
man can review of what
basis 'liberum,
the
points are seen as of arbitrium',
decide for himself
to
man's ability what particular ends
to
pursue.
Chapter 4 Aquinas'account the by
examines of process
Deliberation
which particular ends are pursued. and
identified
in
that
choice are
as crucial stages process,
the Some form
and
nature and role of each considered.
is be
of reasoning to
concluded an essential part of
human
The intellect
action.
respective roles of will and
in deliberation it is
choice and are considered and
that human both,
shown acts are a product of
inextricably
Chapter 4
related. also questions whether
is human
choice a necessary element of acts and
that it to be despite Stump's
concludes seems so,
that Aquinas' to the
argument approach sinfulness of
sudden actions shows otherwise.
Aquinas'view that God's knowledge is the
cause of what
he knows is identified in Chapter 5
as a possible
block is for
to the that
stumbling view choice necessary
freedom. Craig's for holding that the
arguments causal
God's knowledge destroys human freedom
nature of
are
'causes' is being
the that
rejected on ground used
God it is for
analogically of and man, and so possible
humans to be It is
effective contingent causes.
that this imply
recognized approach might potentiality
be inconsistent
in God, Aquinas'
which would with
God's That difficulty be
wider views on simplicity. would
4
if Aquinas' freedom
avoided concept of were compatible
God's determining human
with action, which would
however Arguments for
exclude choice.
a concept of
freedom
the
which excludes possibility of choice are
Aquinas'holding
considered, and arguments against
forward.
that
position put
Chapter 6 that the key
the
concludes characteristics
of
freedom Aquinas'
treatment
concept of underlying of
God's knowledge future
of contingents are self-
direction,
intellect
the
combination of will and which
it, It is however
that
produces and choice. recognized
this freedom
tensions
account of reveals with other
held by Aquinas.
views
5
CONTENTS
Acknowledgement
Abbreviations
and citations
Introduction
10
Chapter 1: The dilemma God's knowledge
of
future 27
of contingents
A. Can God know future 30
contingents?
B. Aquinas' 34
responses
C. Problems Aquinas' 50
with solution
D. Future freedom 60
contingents and
Chapter 2: Contingency freedom 73
and
A. Contingency
74
and necessity
B. Purpose freedom
81
of concept of
C. What is it that is free? 84
D. Human
87
action
Chapter 3: Voluntary the 97
action and will
Elements
A. 99
of voluntary action
A. 1 Inner
principle of motion
A. 2 Self-movers
104
A. 3 Action for 110
an end
B. The
121
will
B. 1 The the
123
will and good
B. 2 Liberum
137
arbitriurn
B. 3 The
140
will as self-mover
B. 3.1
141
extemal principle of motion
B. 3.2 things the
151
other which move will
B. 4 Acts
of will 153
C. Voluntary the the intellect
acts, will and 160
6
Chapter 4: Choice deliberation
and 175
A. Choice
177
A. 1 What is
choice 179
A. 2 Role
of choice 183
B. Deliberation
187
C. Freedom
of choice 202
D. Relationship between intellect in
will and
choice 215
E. Is to free
choice essential a act? 226
Chapter 5: God's knowledge the
as cause of
things
260
A. Cause God's knowledge
264
of
B. Primary
269
and secondary causes.
C. Craig's
274
arguments
D. God's
281
causation
E. Possibility doing
291
of otherwise
F. The
far
294
argument so
G. A
freedom
wider 296
concept of
Chapter 6:
Conclusions
316
Appendix
328
Bibliography
329
7
Acknowledgement
I here formally to thank Supervisor,
wish my
Professor Alexander Broadie, for his
teaching,
infinite
encouragement and apparently patience.
-
8
ABBREVIATIONS AND CITATIONS
The in the following
abbreviations used chapters are:
DM: Quaestiones disputatae de
malo
DV: Quaestiones disputatae de
veritate
SCG: Summa Contra Gentiles
ST: Summa Theologiae
References illustrated
to the Summa Theologiae
are as
below:
STIa. 5: ST, first Question 5
part,
STIa. 11ae. 6.1c: ST, first the
part of second part,
Question 6. Article 1, body
of response
ST11a. 11ae. 10.1 0bJ 1: ST, the
second part of second
Question 10, Article 1, first Objection
part,
ST111a. 18.4 2: ST, third Question 18, Article
ad part,
4, to Objection 2.
reply
References De Veritate
to by Question,
are made
Article, Difficulties
and raised; to the
references
Summa Contra Gentiles by
Book, Chapter
are
and
paragraph.
9
Quotations in English from the ST taken from the
are
Blackfriars Edition,
except where noted.
The indicated by in
the
notes end-note numbers main
the
text
are placed at end of each chapter.