The use of Analogy and Thomas Aquinas What is an analogy? What did Thomas Aquinas say about them? How do analogies effect the use of Religious Language?

Equivocal Language Univocal Language A black cat Both words mean in the same thing in both cases A black car A goal post Both words have very different meanings in each case A post box

ANALOGY Analogy: “The process of reasoning from parallel cases; presumptive reasoning based upon the assumption that if things have some similar attributes, their other attributes will be similar” From

Paley’s watch, 1802 …Every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, there exists in the works of Nature… WatchWorld (Nature)

I love my dog God loves me Analogy of Attribution

To say “God loves me” is still meaningful (to some extent) even if one does not know exactly what it means. The language still bears meaning, regardless of the level. The key element is that we use the term (attribute) to gain understanding, but God is the benchmark. Analogy of Attribution Our understanding is either: upwards e.g. ‘a dog is faithful’… ‘I am faithful to God’ or downwards e.g. ‘God is wise’… ‘my grandfather was wise’. [John Hick]

Analogy of Proportionality There is a proportionate relationship between all things. A Plant has lifeA Human has lifeGod has life NB. This is only meaningful if you know both terms… Therefore each example above is true, but only in proportion to itself. Consider the plant vs. human vs. God. We can come to understanding but all things must be understood in proportion to themselves

It all relates to the “gradation to be found in things” Aquinas Analogy of Attribution Analogy of Proportionality We can draw meaning from God’s nature and we can apply attributes While all things stem from God, each case must be proportional to its respective nature