God and Being

Is God 'beyond being' as Plato said, or 'being itself' as Aquinas said? These contradictory positions are reconcilable.

Nathan Lyons (Author)

9781009462518, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 21 December 2023

78 pages
23.5 x 15.9 x 0.9 cm, 0.27 kg

This Element examines how the Western philosophical-theological tradition between Plato and Aquinas understands the relation between God and being. It gives a historical survey of the two major positions in the period: (a) that the divine first principle is 'beyond being' (e.g. Plato, Plotinus, and Pseudo-Dionysius), and (b) that the first principle is 'being itself' (e.g. Augustine, Avicenna, and Aquinas). The Element argues that we can recognise in the two traditions, despite their apparent contradiction, complementary approaches to a shared project of inquiry into transcendence.

Introduction
1. The 'beyond being' tradition
2. The 'being itself' tradition
3. Reconciling the traditions?
4. God and being today
Conclusion
References.

Subject Areas: Religion: general [HRA]