Angelicum Thomistic Institute Ist Gottes Wesen für uns Unerkennbar? | Patrick Zoll SJ
Nov 24, 2025
Patrick Zoll SJ, a Jesuit scholar known for his expertise in Thomas Aquinas, dives into deep theological discussions. He explores the tension between classical and personal theism, addressing divine simplicity's implications. Zoll argues that while we can know God's existence, grasping His essence fully remains elusive. He examines Aquinas’s arguments against Maimonides, highlighting negative theology's nuances. Throughout, Zoll asserts that we can attain positive yet limited knowledge of God through analogical language, bridging philosophical insights with contemporary relevance.
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Divine Simplicity Raises Epistemic Questions
- Thomas sees God as metaphysically simple, not composed of parts like created beings.
- That simplicity raises questions about whether we can know God's essence, a point debated by contemporary interpreters.
Medieval Dialogue Illustrates Thomas's Position
- Patrick Zoll SJ describes Thomas engaging Maimonides and John of Damascus in De Potentia Q7.
- He uses these medieval interlocutors to illustrate Thomas's nuanced anti-apophatic stance.
Existence Versus Essence Distinction
- In De Potentia Q7 Thomas defends knowing God's existence while denying full knowledge of God's essence.
- He distinguishes knowing Esse (existence) propositionally from knowing esse as act, resolving objections from John of Damascus.
