Analogy Flashcards
what is analogy?
The compromise and offers a way of resolving the problems caused by univocal and equivocal language and seeks to enable people to speak meaningful about God
Who first argued that religious language is neither univocal or equivocal ?
Aquinas
what did Aquinas say about religious language not being univocal or equivocal
he said God is not like other beings, but we can reason about him by using words in a non-literal way that show there is no relationship between a word used in one sentence as opposed to another
what did Aquinas suggest
there could be a way of making positive claims about God and conveying positive ideas , as long as we accept that the words has an analogical, rather than literal, application
What is analogical language a means by?
which we may be compared to God in order to describe Gods nature
What did Aquinas call the ‘gradation to be found in things’
all goodness and love in humanity came first from God and, therefore, God and humanity are ‘analogously related’
who do all the positive qualities of humanity also belong to in Greater and more perfect ways?
God
How do we understand God?
Through our experiences of these human qualities
What are the two types of analogy?
- Analogy of proportionality
- Analogy of attribution
Define the analogy of proportionality? and give an example
this is the view that all good qualities belong infinitely to God, and in proportions to humans.
example : plants have life, humans have life, God has life
there is a proportionate relationship
in this way we cannot fully understand God, we can at least begin to understand his nature
define analogy of attribution and give an example
It’s the view that God is the cause of all good things in humans, therefore God’s attributes are simply a higher level of our own.
Hick offered the examples of ‘upwards’ analogy, for example speaking of a dogs faithfulness and then going upwards to human faith in God
There is also a ‘downwards analogy’ uses attributes of God and reflects them downwards
How are analogies considered to be useful?
They are considered useful in many different contexts, especially when used to communicate complex or new ideas.
They can help for a picture in our minds, so associated ideas and draw conclusions
In Aquinas’ view what is important to remember ?
That God cannot be wholly understood and we will never reach a clear understanding where we comprehend what exactly God is
