WorksheetsA-Level - Analogy and Via Negativa
Total questions: 21
Worksheet time: 11mins
What language used for God does Aquinas reject?
Univocal
Equivocal
Analogical
Non-cognitive
What is univocal language?
Words that mean the same thing each time.
Words that mean something different in different situations.
Words that are seen only as literal.
Words that are seen only as figurative.
What is equivocal language?
Words that mean the same thing each time.
Words that mean something different in different situations.
Words that are seen only as literal.
Words that are seen only as figurative.
Univocal language is inadequate because...
it anthropomorphises God
it makes God seem different to humans
God is beyond human understanding
We have no language for God
Equivocal language is also inadequate because...
we don't know what it means in God's context/situation
we should only talk about God in literal ways
it is not verifiable
it cannot be falsified
Aquinas instead uses analogy. Analogies are...
a comparison to help understanding
a way of directly describing God
a comparison between two things that have no link
made up stories about complex concepts
Aquinas talked about 2 types of analogies:
attribution
proportionality
direct
indirect
The analogy of attribution helps us to understand...
God's qualities
what God has done in the past
how to anthropomorphise God
how to verify the language of God
When we describe a person as 'good', this is an analogy for God's goodness because...
God is perfectly good
God cannot do anything wrong
God caused the person to exist
there is no link between the person and God
This is because the Bible says...
"God created mankind in his image."
"God created images of humans."
"The image of God created them."
"In the beginning, God created the earth and humans."
For Aquinas, nature and the natural world is...
an analogy for God
an analogy for humans
full of equivocal language we can use for God
full of univocal language we can use for God
Analogy of proportionality is...
descriptions are proportional to what they describe
God is bigger than humans
making sure descriptions receive the correct proportions of analogy
only saying limited statements about God
What is kataphatic language?
Using positive terms to describe God.
Describing God as a positive God and not a bad God.
Describing God in negative terms.
Describing God as a negative God and not a good God.
What does it mean to use 'positive' terms for God?
Describing what God is like
Describing what God is not
Describing God through analogies
Describing God in a way that shows he is good
What is apophatic language?
Using positive terms to describe God.
Describing God as a positive God and not a bad God.
Describing God in negative terms.
Describing God as a negative God and not a good God.
What does it mean to use 'negative' terms for God?
Describing what God is like
Describing what God is not
Describing God through analogies
Describing God in a way that shows he is good
Which of these statements follow the Via Negativa?
God is good.
God is omnipotent.
God can create a square circle.
God is not finite.
Maimonides said:
"the sun is hidden to eyes that are too weak to comprehend it"
"the sun is too weak to be comprehended"
"the sun is hidden to eyes that are too human to comprehend it"
"the eye is too hidden for the comprehensible to weaken it"
Maimonides said...
that we can understand God by gathering the negatives together
that we can understand God by seeing him as a negative God
that we cannot say anything at all about God
that we will never have any knowledge of God
Pseudo-Dionysius argued that literal descriptions of God...
limit God
enhance God
help us to understand God
provide verifiable evidence
Pseudo-Dionysius said about God:
"It is beyond assertion and denial."
"It is beyond assertion."
"It is beyond denial."
"It is beyond literal statements."
