Episode 83: Divine Causation and Creaturely Action with Gloria Frost
Sep 16, 2024
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In this discussion, Gloria Frost, a philosophy professor known for her work on medieval thought, dives into the intricate relationship between divine causation and human action. She articulates how figures like Aquinas and Scotus view the balance of divine influence and free will. The conversation explores radical perspectives, particularly Alevi's critique of excessive divine causation affecting God's goodness. With insights into emerging trends, Gloria reveals how these age-old debates continue to shape contemporary philosophical discourse.
The podcast highlights the ongoing discourse around divine causation, emphasizing how medieval concepts influence modern views on free will and responsibility.
Gloria Frost discusses three key medieval figures, each presenting distinct models of divine and creaturely causation, shaping theological and philosophical debates today.
Deep dives
Exploring Divine and Creaturely Causation
The episode delves into the intricate relationship between divine causation and creaturely action, highlighting the challenges posed when reconciling God's omnipotence with human free will. Traditional views across major religious traditions assert that God continuously creates and sustains everything in existence, thus raising questions about the autonomy of creatures to cause effects on their own. For instance, if God is seen as the constant force behind all actions, one might wonder if human free will is merely an illusion, leading to vital discussions about what role creatures play in their own actions. The episode emphasizes that these foundational debates constitute a significant part of philosophical discussions throughout the medieval period, directly impacting how free will and responsibility are understood.
Medieval Perspectives: Aquinas, Scotus, and Alevi
Three primary medieval figures—Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, and Peter John Alevi—are explored in relation to their views on divine and creaturely causation. Aquinas proposed an instrumental model where creatures act as tools under God's guidance, allowing for a division of labor in causation, exemplified by the way a craftsman uses various tools to create. In contrast, Scotus introduced the idea of independent co-causes, suggesting that both God and creatures can contribute autonomously to the causation of effects, such as a child being born from independent parental contributions. Alevi's mere conservationism view minimized God's role in actively causing actions, positing instead that God merely sustains creatures, which sparked debates on divine responsibility relating to human sin and the nature of free will.
Contemporary Relevance and Future Directions
The discussion extends into how these medieval views are still relevant today, particularly within the fields of theology and science, where debates about God's interactions with the natural world continue. Contemporary philosophers and theologians find analogs for Aquinas' and Scotus' models in their own explorations of how divine action intersects with natural causes. Scholars are increasingly examining lesser-known medieval figures and their contributions to the discourse, which may offer new insights into complex issues like the nature of sin and the extent of God's causation. The podcast closes by hinting at the exciting developments and potential new views that may emerge as this area of scholarship unfolds, potentially influencing modern philosophical conversations.
In this episode, we talk with Gloria Frost about various views of divine causation of creaturely action, focusing on three views from the medieval period.