Cursus Theologicus, Tomus I: In Primam Partem
Collegii Salmanticensis Cursus Theologicus, tomus I
First published 1870
The Cursus Theologicus of the Discalced Carmelites of Salamanca (the 'Salmanticenses'), tomus I, in the 1870 Paris reprint. Contains the Prooemium and the three great treatises of this volume: De principio individuationis (a digression on the principle of individuation), De Visione Dei (in quaest. 12), and De Scientia Dei (in quaest. 14, including the extended rejection of middle knowledge). The edition prints St Thomas's Prima Pars text alongside; that text is not republished here.
Prooemium, and the Division of the whole Work
Quaestio I: On the Simplicity of God
The conclusion of each of the two articles is negative.
The conclusion is affirmative.
The conclusion is affirmative.
The conclusion is negative.
The conclusion is negative.
The conclusion is affirmative.
The conclusion is negative.
Notes concerning all the articles of this third question of St. Thomas.
In the first place, then, from those things which we said in the Prologue of this work, it is sufficiently clear why this Theological Course begins with qu. 3 of the first part of St. Thomas: and therefore with regard to this point nothing further need be said.
Next, it must be noted that with regard to this question several things could be called into question by D. Thom. First indeed, whether God is a body, and composed of matter and form? Second, however, whether he is the same as his essence, or nature; and likewise, whether he is the same as his existence? Third, whether he is in some genus? Fourth, however, whether he is simple in himself? and whether he can enter into the composition of others? Fifth, whether there are any accidents in him? Sixth, whether he is individuated by himself? Seventh, finally, whether material substances are individuated from matter as from the first principle of their individuation? For, as we said in the Prologue, D. Thomas proves from this that God is individuated by himself, and not from matter: because in this the spiritual substances are distinguished from the material ones, in that the former are individuated from themselves, whereas the latter are individuated from matter, as from the first root. Now, since the first, second, fourth, and fifth can be established from those things which we shall say in the treatise on the Knowledge and Will of God, and the third from those things which our Complutense College has handed down in 3 Physic., it therefore remains to say something only about the sixth and the seventh. But since there is no special difficulty about the sixth, but only about the seventh, and about what was to be handed down concerning it, and what our Complutense College has treated on purpose was omitted for just reasons, therefore, on account of those things which we set forth in the second number of the Prologue of this work, we shall undertake only a single treatise for the explanation of this question: in which we shall treat of the principle of the individuation of material substance, and of its accidents, and consequently of the principle of purely individual distinction. For matter alone, which is the principle of individuation with respect to material substance, as will be clear from what is said below, can be the first root and origin of the aforesaid distinction: so that from it one may also gather how God is individuated by himself, and cannot be distinguished from another by a purely individual distinction.