Autor: Lonergan, Bernard J.F.

Buch: The Trinune God: Systematics

Titel: The Triune God: Systematics

Stichwort: Argument zu These 2; Schlussfolgerung: nur 2 Hervorgänge aus Gott

Kurzinhalt: First, we argue that in the deity two processions can be conceived on the basis of the likeness of intellectual emanation.

Textausschnitt: Argument

187b First, we argue that in the deity two processions can be conceived on the basis of the likeness of intellectual emanation. (Fs)

God is being by essence and the very act of understanding, truth by essence and the very act of affirming, good by essence and the very act of loving. For it is impossible that the highest being lack the perfection of intelligence, that the highest truth lack truth in the formal sense (which is the act of affirming), that the highest good lack the goodness of love itself.1 (Fs; Fußnote)

Fußnote:
[In Insight (p. 681), Lonergan speaks of God not as the highest being, the highest truth, and the highest good, but as the primary being, the primary truth, and the primary good. Bearing this in mind provides a useful control for understanding accurately his use of 'highest' here.]


187c Now, every act of affirming known to us is true to the extent that it emanates from one who understands; and every spiritual love known to us is right and holy to the extent that it proceeds from a true affirmation of a good. (Fs)

187d Therefore, if any intellectual emanations can be conceived in God, surely the emanation of the word from the speaker and the emanation of love from both of these can be conceived in God. (Fs)

187e If these two intellectual emanations are posited in God, they are not reducible to one emanation only. For 'to emanate from the word' and 'not to emanate from the word' stand to each other in contradictory opposition. But it is of the nature of love to emanate from the word. And it is of the nature of the word not to be from itself but to emanate from the one understanding and speaking. Now, certainly, one cannot posit contradiction in God; so the emanation of the word and the emanation of love cannot be posited in God in such a manner that there results one emanation only. Therefore, there are two divine processions that can be conceived through the likeness of intellectual emanation. (Fs)

189a Next, we argue that only two processions in God can be conceived through the likeness of intellectual emanation. (Fs)

For in God there can be conceived only one act of understanding, only one word, only one love. (Fs)

But there is only one emanation of one love; there is only one emanation of one word; and the divine act of understanding cannot intellectually emanate from some other principle. (Fs)

Therefore, in terms of the likeness to intellectual emanation, one can conceive only two processions in God. (Fs)

189b The major premise is certain both by reason of the act and by reason of the object: by reason of the act, since in God, who is absolutely simple, there is only one act; by reason of the object, because the infinite act of understanding attains the totality of being, the infinite act of affirming attains the totality of truth, the infinite act of love attains the totality of the good.2 (Fs)

189c The minor premise is evident inasmuch as it asserts that in a single eternal and immutable act there is one emanation of one word and one emanation of one love. In us, however, in some measure there is an intellectual emanation of the act of understanding, to the extent that when we are intellectually conscious we inquire, investigate, and reason, so that we may come to an act of understanding. But this is not the case with God, since God is not reduced from the potency to the act of understanding. (Fs)