Commentary on the First Book of the Sentences of Peter Lombard, Distinction III, Question 1, Article 2
Whether the existence of God (Deum esse) is per se notum (known intuitively).
To the second article we thus proceed.
Objections.
- It seems that the existence of God (Deum esse) is per se notum (known intuitively or through itself). For that is called per se notum the knowledge of which is placed in us, e.g. that every whole is greater than its part. But knowledge of God’s existence, according to John Damascene, Orthodox Faith, Book I, ch. 1, naturally is inserted in everything. Therefore, the existence of God is per se notum.
- Again, just as sensible light is related to sight, so intelligible light is related to the intellect. But sensible light is of itself visible; that is, nothing is seen except through the mediation of it. Therefore, God is known of Himself, without mediation.
- Again, all knowledge comes about through the union of the thing known with the knower. But God is through Himself inwardly present to the soul, even more so than the soul is to itself. Therefore, He can be known through Himself.
- Furthermore, that is per se notum which cannot be thought not to be. But God cannot be thought not to be. Therefore, His existence is per se notum. The proof of the middle (of the argument) is made by Anselm in Proslogion, Ch. 15: God is that than which a greater cannot be thought. But that which cannot be thought not to be is greater than that which can be thought not to be. Therefore, God cannot be thought not to be. It (the middle) can be proved in another way: No thing can be known without (understanding) its quiddity (whatness), as man (cannot be known) without (understanding) that he is a mortal rational animal. But the quiddity of God is His very existence, as Avicenna says, On Intelligences, Ch. 1. Therefore, God cannot be thought not to be.
On the contrary.
- Those things that are per se nota as the Philosopher says in Metaphysics, Book IV, even though they may be denied exteriorly by the mouth, can never be denied interiorly in the heart. But the existence of God can be denied in the heart; Psalm 13, 1 “The fool has said in his heart: There is no God.” Therefore, the existence of God is not per se notum.
- Again, whatever is the conclusion of a demonstration is not per se notum. But the existence of God is demonstrated even by philosophers (cf. Physics VII and Metaphysics XII). Therefore, the existence of God is not per se notum.
Solution.
I respond that one can speak about the knowledge of something in two ways, either according to the thing itself or with reference to us (quoad nos). Therefore, speaking about God according to Himself, His existence is per se notum and He Himself is understood through Himself (per se intellectus) and not through the fact that we make Him intelligible as we make material things intelligible in act.
Speaking about God with respect to us, this again can be considered in two ways. On the one hand, according to His likeness and participation; and in this way His existence is per se notum. For nothing is known except through its truth which is modelled (exemplata) on God. However, that there is truth is per se notum. On the other hand, according to a supposit, that is, considering God Himself according to what is in His nature something incorporeal. And in this way, it (the existence of God) is not per se notum. Indeed, many are found to deny that God exists, as all philosophers who do not posit an Agent Cause, e.g. Democritus and certain others (Metaphysics, Book I). And the reason for this is that those things that are per se notum are made known immediately through sense, just as, by seeing a whole and a part, we immediately know that every whole is greater than its part without any investigation. Wherefore, the Philosopher says in Posterior Analytics, Book I, “We know (first) principles when we know (their) terms.” But by sensible sight we cannot come upon God except by proceeding as follows: these things are caused, and everything which is caused is from some agent cause; the First Agent Cause cannot be a body. And so we do not come upon God except by arguing; and no such (procedure) is per se notum. And this is the rationale of Avicenna in On Intelligences, Ch. 1.
Replies to objections.
- The authority of John Damascene should be understood to concern divine knowledge that is placed in us according to the likeness of Him (God) and not according to what is in His nature, just as it is even said that all things desire God, not, indeed, (that they desire) Him as He is considered in His nature, but in a likeness to Him. For, nothing is desired except insofar as it has His likeness; and so nothing is known (except insofar as it has His likeness).
- Our sight is proportioned to seeing corporeal light through itself alone; but our intellect is not proportioned to knowing something by a natural knowledge except through sensible things. And so it cannot come upon a purely intelligible thing except through argumentation.
- Although God is in the soul through (His) essence, presence and power, nevertheless, He is not in it as the object of the intellect; and this is required for knowledge. Wherefore, even the soul is itself present to itself. Nevertheless, it is most difficult (to come) to knowledge of the soul, nor is it (knowledge of the soul) found in it (the soul) except by reasoning from objects to acts, and from acts to the power.
- The reasoning of Anselm should be understood thus: After we understand (intelligimus) God, it cannot be understood (intelligi) that there is a God and (at the same time) He be able to be thought (cogitari) not to be. But, nevertheless, from this (fact) it does not follow that someone would not be able to deny (His existence) or think that God does not exist. For one can think that there is nothing of the sort than which a greater cannot be thought. And so his (Anselm’s) reasoning proceeds from this supposition, that it be supposed that there is something than which a greater cannot be thought.One should answer in a similar way to the other proof.
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