G D

HIS EXISTENCE and HIS NATURE

Thomistic Solution of Certain Agnostic Antinomies

By

THE REV. R. GARRIGOU-LAGRANGE, O.P.

MASTER IN THEOLOGY

PROFESSOR OF DOGMATIC THEOLOGY IN THE

COLLEGIO ANGELICO, ROME; MEMBER OF THE

ROMAN ACADEMY OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Translated from the Fifth French Edition
BY DOM BEDE ROSE, O.S.B., D.D.

ST. BENEDICT'S ABBEY
MOUNT ANGEL, ORE.

Volume I

“The first indemonstrable principle is tha the same thing cannot be at the same time affirmed and denied;
this is based on the notion of being and non•being, and on this principle all others are based, as is stated by
the Philosopher in the Fourth Book of his Metaphysics. ch. 3."

(St. Thomas, Summa Theol., la tae, q.94, a.2)

B. HERDER BOOK CO.,

15 & 17 SOUTH BROADWAY, ST. LOUIS, MO., AND

33 QUEEN SQUARE, LONDON, W. C. 1949

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Printed in U. S. A.

NIHIL OBSTAT

1.                 MPR1Ml POTEST NIHIL OBSTAT

P. Hieronymus Wespe, O.S.B..

Censor deputatus

Bernard Murphy, O.S.B.,

Abbas

TO THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD,
THE SEAT OF WISDOM
AS A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE
AND FILIAL OBEDIENCE

Sti. Ludovici, die 9. Nov., 1934,

F. J. Holweek, Censor Librorum

IMPRIMATUR

Sti. Ludoviei, die 9. Nov., !A34,

P. P. Crane, V.G.

Copyright 1934

B. HERDER BOOK CO.

Sixth Impression

Yaa-Ballou Press, Inc., Binghamton and Nov, York

Contents

Title Page: G D HIS EXISTENCE AND HIS NATURE

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION

PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION

PREFACE TO THE FIFTH EDITION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

CHAPTER I
WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHES ABOUT GOD'S EXISTENCE AND HIS NATURE, AND THE KNOWLEDGE WHICH WE CAN HAVE OF HIM BY MEANS OF THE NATURAL LIGHT OF REASON.

CHAPTER II
THE POSSIBILITY OF PROVING THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

SECTION I
WHAT GENUS AND WHAT SPECIES OF DEMONSTRATION DOES THIS DEMONSTRABILITY DEMAND?

SECTION II
OBJECTIONS RAISED AGAINST THE DEMONSTRABILITY OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. EMPIRICAL AND IDEALISTIC AGNOSTICISM

SECTION III
PROOF OF THE DEMONSTRABILITY OF GOD'S EXISTENCE

ARTICLE I
THE ONTOLOGICAL VALIDITY OF FIRST IDEAS AND FIRST PRINCIPLES

TABULATION OF THE MODES OF BEING.

ARTICLE II
THE TRANSCENDENTAL VALIDITY OF FIRST IDEAS AND FIRST PRINCIPLES

CHAPTER III
EXPOSÉ OF THE PROOFS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

APPENDIX
THE THOMISTIC PROOFS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD IN THEIR RELATION TO THE NOTION OF PROPER CAUSE<

FIRST PROOF: FROM MOTION

SECOND PROOF: FROM EFFICIENT CAUSES

THIRD PROOF: FROM THE CONTINGENCY OF BEINGS IN THE WORLD

FOURTH PROOF: FROM THE DEGREES OF PERFECTION IN BEINGS

FIFTH PROOF: FROM THE ORDER PREVAILING IN THE UNIVERSE

THE ONE END TO WHICH ALL FIVE PROOFS CONVERGE

Contents