Existence and Analogy

Kristy Leah O. Hernandez                                                                                   October 13, 2010

AB Philosophy 4                                                                                                     PH 25 A

Existence and Analogy

By: E.L. Mascall

            The author of the book started his discussion on the nature of Christian atheism. In this chapter of the book the author explicated that there are conceptions of God in nature and also in theory. From this chapter, there is a summary of the Book of Genesis and also a critique of it being part of doctrines and also the famous Christian revelation. The author’s way of explaining is by dissecting parts of how to understand theism in two approaches which he used on his book. The first approach he used was the essentialist approach on how one can understand theism. In this chapter of the book, the author introduced philosophers which from his point of view are using the essentialist approach.

One of which is St. Anselm and his famous ontological argument, The Proslogioun which encourages readers that God is what he says “than that which nothing greater can be thought” which was critiqued by the author saying it is defective because St. Anselm’s argument seems only to solely based on conception of God which means God is only in our minds which leads the author to speak of Descartes’ position on the subject matter where Descartes says God is supremely perfect. Also, the author discussed about Liebniz and of Spinoza’s famous pantheism. The author criticizes Spinoza because in the way of the philosopher had presented his argument is by way of geometry and for the author, geometry can never explain the existence of God, even so how essential it is.  After exposing the essentialist approach to theism, the author then exposed St. Thomas Aquinas’ approach which is existentialism where the author who explains from St. Thomas that ens is the actual concrete existence where the existence of a finite being is determinate and a beings act of existence is primary.

The author also elaborated the very famous The Five Ways of proving God’s existence by St. Thomas Aquinas where the author said that there is cognitive act. In the next chapter, the author explained the doctrine of analogy that by using this doctrine the purpose is not to explain existence of God but to explain how it is that we have been able to do so and to analyze what it is that we have been doing and succeeded with the chapter about God and the creature where all of us will all fall to the same belief about God and how we understand Him. After long discussion of each chapter, the author concludes that we are surrounded by a world of active beings which is dependent upon God who is Pure Act and so ended his conclusion by saying the position will be left incomplete as is to day the reader is tasked to choose from which side he takes.

            What I noticed from the author is that how he lavishly explains existentialism as if he was implying to the reader that the best way to approach theism is by the use of existentialism where it can be understood that God exists and His essence is only the mode of His existence. From his critique which he made about St. Anselm’s argument saying it is defective and that Descartes was able to give justice to what is the real ontological argument might for me somewhat subjective in a sense that the author is not so much of essentialism, and is implicitly inclined with existentialism.

In exposing St. Thomas Aquinas’ Five Ways, from what I have understood from previous discussions and lesson about this argument used by St. Thomas, the five ways is  for me enough to explain the existence of God and how contingent beings exists. There is a special character of this argument that lead me to saying and affirming such because it draws to me very intelligible and reasonable, as a Christian, this is faith in God that is in me makes me assert such position.

One thing also that I noticed from the author is that he was dependent upon another author where some of his ideas was taken which to me, in light of his inspiration that is why he came about such positions which he admitted he will leave incomplete but as for me a reader, the author is somewhat challenging me to take a stand.

            In line with the previous discussion in class about the existence of evil and also the basic goodness of human nature and everything that surrounds it, by solely relying to St. Thomas Aquinas’ argument, I understand that this Being is one who is the reason why such is existing and to us real. That in our human life, even though we may be on the evil side, still we go back to our basic goodness even though trying to be good still makes us sin, the primary reason behind this is the Ultimate Source of this human life.

            There is also a connection that I can make from the previous book that I have, both books tackled about St. Thomas Aquinas Five Ways to express and explain how conception of “God” for humans had came about. As I believe, and still believe, it through our faith that we can see, understand and maybe know God. All these arguments presented by the author is an affirmation of existence of a Supreme Being, guiding us all, causing us all, all-knowing and ever present. As a philosopher, these approaches might become a turning point for me but this will then all boils down to me being a devoted Christian to believe in Him with my reason and faith.