Philosophical Works · Chapter
XXII explained
This chapter explains that by proving God's existence through the innate idea of Him, we also come to know His attributes—eternity, omniscience, omnipotence, and infinite perfection—as far as human nature allows.
What happens
This chapter explains that by proving God's existence through the innate idea of Him, we also come to know His attributes—eternity, omniscience, omnipotence, and infinite perfection—as far as human nature allows.
Themes in this chapter
Existence of God
The chapter presents the proof of God's existence from the innate idea of a perfect being, and shows that this same idea reveals His attributes.
Reason and Method
The chapter emphasizes that the natural light of reason alone is sufficient to know God's attributes, highlighting the method of reflection on innate ideas.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“That in knowing the existence of God, in the manner here explained, we likewise know all his attributes, as far as they can be known by the natural light alone.”
By proving God's existence through the innate idea of Him, we also come to understand His attributes to the extent that human reason allows.
This establishes the connection between the proof of God's existence and the knowledge of His nature.
“we perceive that he is eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, the source of all goodness and truth, creator of all things, and that, in fine, he has in himself all that in which we can clearly discover any infinite perfection or good that is not limited by any imperfection.”
We recognize that God is eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, the origin of all goodness and truth, the creator of everything, and possesses every infinite perfection without any flaw.
This lists the key divine attributes that are known through reflection on the innate idea of God.