Potentia Dei: de Tomás de Aquino a Hobbes

Abstract

La intención del presente trabajo es analizar las consecuencias filosófico-teológico-políticas que la distinción entre potentia dei absoluta y potentia dei ordinata, surgida en el medioevo, generará en el pensamiento político moderno, particularmente en el de Thomas Hobbes. Se parte de la consideración del tema que hace Pedro Damián. Luego se analiza en Tomás de Aquino la noción de potencia divina, el tratamiento que el Aquinate da a la omnipotencia y, finalmente, el valor secundario que Tomás asigna a la distinctio. Se continúa con el análisis de las versiones ofrecidas por Duns Scoto y Ockham, para terminar con el estudio de la cuestión en la teología política de Thomas Hobbes, quien anula la distinctio en favor del poder absoluto.

The intention of the present work is to analyze the philosophical-theological-political consequences that the distinction between potentia dei absoluta and potentia dei ordinata, emerged in the Middle Ages, will create for the modern political thinking, particularly in that of Thomas Hobbes. It’s started from the consideration made by Pedro Damian. Then, the notion of divine power is analyzed in Thomas Aquinas, as well as the treatment that he gives to omnipotence and, finally, the secondary value he gives to the distinctio. It continues with the analysis of the versions offered by Duns Scotus and Ockham. It is also examined the elaboration made by Boniface VIII and Giles of Rome on divine omnipotence so it allows to explain the relationship of the papal power (plenitudo potestatis) with the ecclesiastic laws and temporal power. It concludes with the treatment of the problem in Thomas Hobbes’ political theology, in which the distinction is overruled in favor of the absolute power.