Class notes on Aquinas (B)

(Originally written November 30, 2006 in Book 7)

Thomas Aquinas

Metaphysics:

Hierarchy of Substances:
God
Angels
Humans
Apes
Reptiles

Each member is placed in the category and placed by the amount of actuality it possess. The amount of excellence is determined by the amount of actuality a being possesses.

Angels, man, apes, etc. Each have their own hierarchy.

To Do List:

1. Go pay ticket
2. Come back to apartment and start laundry
3. Read 1 section of Zagzebski
4. Call Merkers
5. Box up CD's
6. Read 1 section of Zagzebski
7. Box up clothes
8. Read 1 section of Zagzebski

No specific order
-Read History I
-Read Logic
-Box up Mugs
-Read Epistemology
-Do a Precis! (or 2)
-Read Leibniz (new book)
-Read Genesis (new book)

Freedom and Determinism

-Freedom from coercion
-Freedom of contingency
-Freedom to choose a particular
-We are not free to choose God. All of us desire God and seek the love of God, but we don't manifest it correctly all the time
-Predestination (Augustinian view)
-There are divine exemplars (decrees) for all that come to pass
-God does not cause sin or damnation. God simply abandons some to their chosen sin and they damn themselves
-Why does God save the ones He does? We don't know why, but he doesn't do so arbitrarily