Question

The question revolves around Aristotle's classification of relations as accidents and the theological implications of this concept, particularly in the context of Aquinas's denial that God has accidents. The discussion aims to find a citation or the name of the work in which Aristotle lists relations as accidents.

The response provides some background on the theological implications, particularly in the context of Aquinas's doctrine of God's simplicity. It explains that in finite beings, there are real distinctions between essence and existence, substance and accidents. However, in God, these distinctions are only rational, serving as cognitive devices to help human understanding.

The response emphasizes the concept of simplicity in God, where His Being, Essence, and faculties are all identical. It clarifies that God's act of knowing and willing encompasses all things, and any real relationship with what God creates is considered a mere accident due to the unity of God's act.

In summary, the response provides insights into the theological implications of Aristotle's concept of accidents, especially in relation to Aquinas's understanding of God's simplicity and the inherent distinctions within finite and infinite beings. According to the response, in the theological context of Aquinas's denial that God has accidents, what is the significance of relations in finite beings compared to God?

A) In finite beings, relations are essential aspects that define their existence, while in God, relations are merely cognitive devices for human understanding.
B) Relations play a minor role in both finite beings and God, serving as accidental aspects that do not impact their essential nature.
C) God's relations with created beings are considered accidents, similar to finite beings, emphasizing a parallel distinction.
D) Finite beings and God share an identical understanding of relations, with no significant theological distinctions.

Answer 1

Aristotle's concept of relations as accidents has implications for theology, especially in Aquinas's doctrine of God's simplicity, where divine relations with creation are not actual but only exist as cognitive devices for human understanding.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Aristotle classified relations as accidents, he introduced a concept significant to both philosophy and theology. In Aristotle's work, an accident is a property that may or may not belong to a subject, without affecting its essence. In the theological context, especially as understood by Aquinas, this concept had profound implications. St. Thomas Aquinas, integrating Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, denied that God has accidents. Aquinas's doctrine of God's simplicity states that in God, there is no real distinction between essence and existence, substance and accidents, which are concepts applicable to finite beings. Thus, while relations in finite beings are real and contribute to their existence and essence, in God, relations are considered only in terms of human understanding—they are not real in the divine essence, due to God's unique act of knowing and willing which encompasses all things.

In response to the student's question, the correct answer exploring the significance of relations in finite beings compared to God is:
A) In finite beings, relations are essential aspects that define their existence, while in God, relations are merely cognitive devices for human understanding. The essence of Aquinas's argument lies in the assertion that God's essence and existence are identical, unlike in finite beings where essence, existence, and relations can be distinguished. This theological perspective underscores God's unique nature as the necessary being and underpins Aquinas's Five Ways of proving God's existence, where God is seen as the unmoved mover, the first cause, and the grand designer of the cosmos.