Divine Power and Possibility in St. Peter Damian's De Divina OmnipotentiaContemporary critics have argued that medieval philosophers have transmitted a concept of divine omnipotence that is unintelligible and self-contradictory: one which defines omnipotence as a power capable of producing any effect whatsoever. This study, concentrating upon the first Latin treatise explicitly devoted to omnipotence, places the concept of divine power in its patristic and early medieval context in order to demonstrate that this 'traditional' concept of omnipotence was quite unknown among pre-scholastic figures. This work illuminates the patristic and early medieval background to Damian's seminal text and its theological and philosophical concerns. It explores Damian's central argument that God can, if he wills, even annul the past. This conclusion stems from Damian's insistence that divinity's primary attribute is Goodness and not Being. As such, God's power remains constrained only by divine goodness and is able to do anything whatsoever, even effect a logical contradiction, if it is good to do so. Of special interest to medievalists and historians of philosophy, this work may also make a contribution to contemporary debate. |
Contents
Peter Damians Life and Works | 7 |
Historical Examinations of the Doctrine of Omnipotence | 23 |
The Theological Concerns of Peter Damians | 40 |
The Possibility of Undoing the Past | 77 |
Summary and Conclusions | 112 |
Bibliography | 115 |
Common terms and phrases
abbot affirms annul the past Augustine Berengar Besate Cantin cause the past CCSL chapter Christian Church claims Cluny Corpus Christianorum create creation Desiderius dialectic dialecticians discussion divina omnipotentia divine omnipotence divine power doctrine Edited eleventh century ergo eternal present evil exist facere facit facta faith Fonte Avellana future God's power Gregory of Rimini impossible Jerome's John of Mirecourt laws of nature Leclercq letter logical Macarius Magnes Manegold Medieval Philosophy monastery monastic monks Monte Cassino Monumenta Germaniae Historica Moonan nichil omnia omnip omnipotens order of nature past event Patrologia latina penance Peter Damian Petrus Damiani Pier Damiani possible potentia principle of non-contradiction quae quia quod reform restoration juxta restoration of virginity restore virginity juxta Revue Rome Saint Pierre Damien Scripture Sermo spiritual suggest Theological things Thomas Aquinas Translated undo the past University Press virgin birth virginem virginity juxta carnem Vita
References to this book
Contingent Causality and the Foundations of Duns Scotus' Metaphysics Michael Sylwanowicz Limited preview - 1996 |