Classical Theism, Philosophy, and Religion Forum / How do you define God?

**Posted by New Member** 8/06/2015 11:57 pm

How do you define God, in a thomistic sense?

The Free Dictionary has a bunch of definitions. Is any of these precise?
(thefreedictionary.com/god)

**Posted by DanielCC** 8/07/2015 4:31 am

I think most Thomists would say that strictly speaking God cannot be defined only described. These putative 'definitions' (in the weak sense) are a good place to start:

The Perfect Being

The being in which Essence and Existence are one

The being which is Pure Actuality

**Posted by Scott** 8/08/2015 11:22 am

New Member wrote:
How do you define God, in a thomistic sense?

As DanielCC says, Thomists probably wouldn't think any definition of God is entirely adequate. However, "the self-existent being" is pretty good.

New Member wrote:
The Free Dictionary has a bunch of definitions. Is any of these precise?
(thefreedictionary.com/god)

No, but 1a under the first one isn't bad.