Do You Believe In Fate?

In The Matrix, Thomas A. Anderson (Neo) answers “No” to the title question with the qualification that he does not like the idea that he is not in control of his life. But there is another Thomas A. (Aquinas, that is) that answers this question differently:

I answer that, In this world some things seem to happen by luck or chance. Now it happens sometimes that something is lucky or chance-like, as compared to inferior causes, which, if compared to some higher cause, is directly intended. For instance, if two servants are sent by their master to the same place; the meeting of the two servants in regard to themselves is by chance; but as compared to the master, who had ordered it, it is directly intended.

Further, Augustine says that fate is something real, as referred to the Divine will and power. But the Divine will is cause of all things that happen, as Augustine says. Therefore all things are subject to fate.

We must therefore say that fate, considered in regard to second causes, is changeable; but as subject to Divine Providence, it derives a certain unchangeableness, not of absolute but of conditional necessity. In this sense we say that this conditional is true and necessary: If God foreknew that this would happen, it will happen. Wherefore Boethius, having said that the chain of fate is fickle, shortly afterwards adds, which, since it is derived from an unchangeable Providence, must also itself be unchangeable.

-Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica

How Much Does God Know? Part 3

Now to conclude with the final part of Aquinas’s argument. Aquinas here replies to the objections that he laid down at the first. I particularly like the third reply at the very end.

So, how much does God know? He knows what is, what was, what will be and whatever is possible. God knows whatever is possible because things are only possible because of God.

How Much Does God Know? Part 2

Alright, the last time we looked at the set up. Aquinas laid out the argument that it doesn’t seem that God could know things that ‘are not.’ We may well ask the question, “Does God have any knowledge of things that do not exist?” Which would lead us to the next question, “What is the prerequisite or the nature of existence, or rather, what is required to exist?” Can something be in existence if it is only in thought? Must it have some measurable form to exist? What is possible is not necessarily what is. Or, just because something is not now, does not mean that it was not. But, even a thought has some existence even if what is thought about never comes to pass. Does God waste His time with maybes or what ifs or could have beens?

But again the question Aquinas raises pertains to things that ‘are not.‘ It will help us to take note of the terms used here. He does not ask, “Does God have knowledge of things that will never be?” (Which question I believe would lead into a study on God’s imagination, or rather, His creativity). At some point in eternity, before God had created the universe and the Earth, these were in a state of ‘are not…yet.’ Things can only be if God wills them to be. We can only do what we do if God so wills. With this, I believe I have dug myself in deep enough, and besides, my head hurts!

So, I will hand it over to Thomas now as he takes to lay some groundwork for his reply (coming in the next post) to the objections we looked at in the previous post. By the way, these excerpts that I am posting are from Aquinas’ Summa Theologica: Treatise on God ……..

Any thoughts, insight, other quotes, comments, would be great. Until next time……..

How Much Does God Know? Part 1

Thomas Aquinas, laying out the argument, setting it up. Does God know the things that are not, but things that could be? Here is just enough to get us into trouble. And I think we are going to be in much more trouble before it’s all over!

Stay tuned……