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Divine simplicity

A reference page linking a name, group, or concept to the materials that discuss it.

Metaphysical noncomposition, not simply belief in one God.

Three distinct axes, not one historical transition or a doctrine shared by every school
Three distinct axes, not one historical transition or a doctrine shared by every schoolIL Archive · original diagram · CC BYImage source

Text

Simplicity means noncomposition, not easy comprehension: divine essenceOusia — essenceGreek term for essence or nature, with meanings changing between authors.Glossary · Click to read the explanation does not depend on constituent components. Formulations differ over the relationship of essence and attributes. [1]

AquinasThomas AquinasThirteenth-century theologian linking incorporeality, simplicity and immutability through philosophical premises.Glossary · Click to read the explanation I.3 denies the distinction of essence and existence in God. This is a particular formulation, not an automatic numerical consequence of unity or every school’s position. [2]

References and notes

  1. William F. Vallicella, “Divine Simplicity”, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Introduction and §1: classical simplicity and numerical unity. Return to the text ↑
  2. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I, question 3, articles 1, 4, 7 No body; essence/existence and composition; selected passages. Return to the text ↑

Research history

Substantive changes are retained here. Minor copy edits remain in the internal operational log.

  1. Edition 2 · 11 October 2026 · editor:aladmin

    Substantive record update

    Read this revision in its original language (Arabic)

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IL Archive, «Divine simplicity», Edition 2, https://ilarchive.com/en/entities/divine-simplicity