BONUS|Aquinas & Creation w/ Dr. Kerr
Summary
Dr. Gaven Kerr has written an outstanding new book Aquinas and the Metaphysics of Creation. How is divine immutability compatible with creation? How is creaturely freedom compatible with creation? We discuss those questions and many other issues in this episode.
Guest Bio
Gaven Kerr is a Thomist from Belfast, Northern Ireland, a married father of three, and a Third Order Dominican. He taught theology at Mary Immaculate College Limerick and is now moving to a position teaching philosophy at St Patrick’s College Maynooth. He has focused on philosophy and theology throughout his student days and into his academic career, in particular, the thought of St Thomas Aquinas. He’s also the author of two books, including the recent book: Aquinas and the Metaphysics of Creation.
Topics Covered
– An overview of the book
– The Agent of Creation
– The Meaning of Creation
– How can we analyze creation in terms of the four causes?
– Does creation threaten divine immutability?
– Does God’s creation threaten creaturely freedom?
– Kerr’s analysis of what he calls Aquinas’ proof in the De Ente
– Discussion of the controversy over whether Aquinas proves God in the De Ente (cf. Wippel and Owens)
Show Outline
In the first segment, Dr. Kerr gives a comprehensive outline of his book. He describes the key topics and arguments presented in each chapter. We explore his chapter on the “Agent of Creation.”
In the next segment, I ask Dr. Kerr about his chapter “The Meaning of Creation.” We discuss whether Aristotle’s four causes apply to the Thomistic creation account. Also, I press Dr. Kerr with an objection about Divine Immutability.
In the final segment, we explore some of Dr. Kerr’s work on Aquinas’ proof for God in the De Ente. I ask him to explain a complex issue about which he disagrees with Joseph Owens.
Resources Mentioned
Aquinas and the Metaphysics of Creation by Dr. Gaven Kerr
Aquinas’ Way to God: The Proof in the De Ente De Essentia by Dr. Gaven Kerr
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