Zoom

Join Prof. Joshua Hochschild (Mount St. Mary’s University) and other students to discuss Aquinas on divine naming as presented in the Summa Theologiae. The group will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays between September 11 and October 4 to discuss short readings on the reading group’s theme.

Description:

This reading group will explore how Aquinas handles the possibility of theological speech about a transcendent, ineffable God.  Both the doctrine of divine simplicity, and the Christian mystery of the Trinity, present challenges for human speech’s adequacy to capture truths about God.  Aquinas addresses these challenges in the course of defending and practicing theology, and in so doing illuminates the nature of language and human understanding.  Topics covered will include not only the famous doctrine of “analogy,” but other ways that Aquinas makes use of concepts of and distinctions between semantic functions to address the metaphysical uniqueness of divinity.

Readings:

Week 1: ST I.Q12 on “How God is Known by Us”

Week 2: ST I.Q13 on “The Names of God”

Week 3: ST I.Q29 on “The Divine Persons”

Week 4: ST I.Q39 on “The Persons in Relation to the Essence”

When? Mondays and Wednesdays between September 11 and October 4

What time? 12:00-1:00 pm ET

Where? Zoom

Who can apply? Advanced undergrad and graduate students. Young professional applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Application Deadline? September 4

Space is limited. These reading groups are intentionally small to facilitate good discussion. If you are admitted, please be diligent in attending. Additionally, if you are not admitted to this group, we encourage you to apply to other groups later in the semester.

Applications for this reading group have closed.