Divine Power and Possibility in St. Peter Damian's De Divina Omnipotentia

Divine Power and Possibility in St. Peter Damian's De Divina Omnipotentia - Studien Und Texte Zur Geistesgeschichte Des Mittelalters

Hardback (01 Jul 1992)

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Publisher's Synopsis

Contemporary 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.

About the Publisher

Brill

Brill

Founded in 1683, Brill is a publishing house with a rich history and a strong international focus. The company?s head office is in Leiden, (The Netherlands) with a branch office in Boston, Massachusetts (USA). Brill?s publications focus on the Humanities and Social Sciences, International Law and selected areas in the Sciences.

Book information

ISBN: 9789004095724
Publisher: Brill
Imprint: Brill
Pub date:
Language: English
Number of pages: 130 .
Weight: 399g
Height: 240mm
Width: 160mm
Spine width: 20mm