The Thomistic Institute
Divine Causality and Human Freedom | Prof. W. Matthews Grant
Jan 31, 2025
W. Matthews Grant, a prominent philosopher and expert on Aquinas, dives deep into the intricacies of divine causality and human freedom. He discusses how God's role as the ultimate source of existence aligns with human autonomy, referencing insights from thinkers like Alvin Plantinga. Grant challenges conventional views, proposing a 'both-and' framework to reconcile God's influence and moral responsibility. His engaging exploration highlights the complexity of divine agency, offering a fresh perspective on the relationship between faith and free will.
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Quick takeaways
- The doctrine of divine universal causality emphasizes that God is the ultimate cause of all existence while allowing for human free will.
- Philosophers like Aquinas argue against anthropomorphic models of divine agency, promoting a more coherent understanding of God's relationship to human actions.
Deep dives
Divine Universal Causality
The doctrine of divine universal causality asserts that God is the ultimate source and cause of everything that exists apart from Himself. This traditional perspective is supported by thinkers like St. Augustine, St. Anselm, and St. Thomas Aquinas, who argue that everything other than God owes its existence to Him. A crucial question arises regarding whether God's causality extends to human free actions, as many believe that if God causes our actions, then those actions cannot be considered free. However, the theological tradition counters this by suggesting that free acts can be understood as both caused by God and free in their execution.
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