Divine Providence, Natural Contingency, and the Doctrine of Transcendence

Abstract

Abstract Aquinas’ theory of providence has two major features that are essential for the purpose of establishing a prudential-ordinative view of providence: the doctrine of divine transcendence and natural teleology. Chapter 5 examines the relation of divine providence to natural contingency in Aquinas’ account. It argues that divine transcendence is key in understanding the compatibility of divine providence and natural contingency. First, the chapter goes through various meanings of contingency and its relation to providence. Next, the chapter develops what Bernard Lonergan calls ‘the doctrine of divine transcendence’ in Aquinas, by showing a parallelism between divine intellect, will, and operation. On this basis, the chapter concludes that, on Aquinas’ account, divine operation is transcendent, universal, and holistic. Finally, the chapter suggests moving beyond theo-physical incompatibilism, by rejecting a zero-sum perspective of divine and natural causation.