I am an orthodox Christian, ask me a question!

[Jon Paul]

As I said to you last night on MSN... I still see 'divine simplicity' as an oxymoron.

Divinity if it exists at all needs to come about through simplicity. Divinity needs an explanation.

EvF

Again, that is simply ignoring completely what divine simplicity means. Divine simplicity means that essence and existence (or, essence and actuality/energy) are completely equal; that God is pure actuality. It means that God in his simple essence is non-composite, singular, and that all his attributes are equal to the same fact of his being. Since complexity is composition, God is therefore complete simple.

[Edwardo Piet]

If he's simple then in what sense is he God? How does he have a mind? How is he a "he"?

Minds aren't simple.

EvF

[Jon Paul]

If he's simple then in what sense is he God? How does he have a mind? How is he a "he"?

Minds aren't simple.

EvF

I've already answered that in many posts. I've made clear that God is not an intellect like a human is. Here, here, here, here.

Now, for both Guerilla Radio and you, here are some links to the Summa.

As to Gods simplicity, a long exposition from the Summa here.

As to Gods goodness and perfection, here, here, here. As to Gods love, here, here. As to truth and God, here.

[Edwardo Piet]

If God's an intellect in any way, he still needs an explanation, intellects are complex they are never just there without explanation.

EvF

[Jon Paul]

If God's an intellect in any way, he still needs an explanation, intellects are complex they are never just there without explanation.

I have defined complexity and shown out of that clear definition (composition) how Gods intellect is absolutely simple. You have not defined complexity; you are simply working out of presupposition. Your argument really amounts to question begging. You define "any intellect"="complexity", and therefore since "God=intellectual", "God=complex". The question begging lies in your definition of "any intellect" as complex, while in fact I have put great effort into explaining how God is not a human intellect; human intellects are only analogous to the divine one. I have demonstratively shown from a rational working definition of complexity as composition, that the kind of intellect we are speaking of in God is totally non-composite and simple.

[Edwardo Piet]

I define any intellect as complex because any intellect we know of is complex and need explanation.

Please explain to me how God's intellect somehow isn't complex and doesn't need explanation. How can you know that his mind is somehow simple without knowing the mind of God? As far as I'm concerened minds are by definition complex... why? Because the ability to think and have intelligence needs an explanation! Such abilites are complex!

EvF

[Jon Paul]

I define any intellect as complex because any intellect we know of is complex and need explanation.

No one has claimed that God is a human intellect or a human organism.

Please explain to me how God's intellect somehow isn't complex and doesn't need explanation.

I have already shown in my numerous posts about it that I have linked to, what the nature of the divine intellect is, and why it is non-composite and pure actuality, rather than composite and impure actuality.

[Edwardo Piet]

No one has claimed that God is a human intellect or a human organism.

I didn't say human intellect. I said any intellect. You say God's intellect isn't complex, but to be intellectual it must be!

I have already shown in my numerous posts about it that I have linked to, what the nature of the divine intellect is, and why it is non-composite and pure actuality, rather than composite and impure actuality.

You say you've shown it.. but if he's a mind it needs an explanation... and I fail to see how he somehow is magically different.

EvF

[Jon Paul]

I didn't say human intellect. I said any intellect. You say God's intellect isn't complex, but to be intellectual it must be!

Again, begging the question that an intellectual nature equals complexity. I have made sure to clearly define divine intellectuality in my posts, such that they are immune from question-begging which only works so long as the question-beggings own implicit definitions remain unanalysed.

You say you've shown it.. but if he's a mind it needs an explanation... and I fail to see how he somehow is magically different.

There's no magic in it. My explanation is rational and clear.

[Darwinian]

Again, that is simply ignoring completely what divine simplicity means. Divine simplicity means that essence and existence (or, essence and actuality/energy) are completely equal; that God is pure actuality. It means that God in his simple essence is non-composite, singular, and that all his attributes are equal to the same fact of his being. Since complexity is composition, God is therefore complete simple.

If this is indeed correct, is it not possible for there to be more than one and perhaps an infinite number of these entities? And if not, what is preventing this from happening?