The necessity of primary causes: a critique of Denis Edwards

McGowan, E. (2023) The necessity of primary causes: a critique of Denis Edwards. New Blackfriars, 104(1111), pp. 323-338. (doi: 10.1111/nbfr.12811)

Abstract

In this paper I will investigate a recent development on St Thomas Aquinas’ definition of dual causality and see if it truly develops Aquinas’ thinking or departs from it. Denis Edwards made significant contributions to contemporary Catholic theology especially as it concerns the relationship between science and Christian theology. In one very interesting publication, Toward a Theology of Divine Action, Edwards employs the developments of William R Stoeger, a Jesuit theologian who has also contributed a great deal to Catholic thought on science, to reconcile Stoeger's work with the Thomist tradition. Edwards argued that Stoeger's account of the laws of nature creates a space for the development which is built on Aquinas’ account of divine causality and miracles. However, I hope to show that Edwards’ account of divine causality does not actually offer anything new and opposes key features of Thomist thought. This paper will investigate Edward's understanding of the Thomist position and the consequences of departing from it.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mutch, Ms Emma
• Authors: McGowan, E.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Journal Name: New Blackfriars
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0028-4289
• ISSN (Online): 1741-2005
• Published Online: 30 January 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in New Blackfriars 104(1111):323-338
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license