Divine Science and the Science of God. A Reformulation of Thomas Aquinas by Victor Preller (review)

BOOK REVIEWS 261 Each reader of this work is faced perhaps by the important question: shall he or shall he not believe in action as in theory that he who hears the Magisterium hears Christ? Providence College Providence, R. I. THOMAS u. MULLANEY, 0. P. Divine Science and the Science of God. A Reformulation of Thomas Aquinas. By VICTOR PRELLER. Princeton University Press, 1967. Pp. 281 $8.50. The ruthless honesty with which a number of basic questions relating to our knowledge of God are treated makes this book a work of importance. The intention of the author is a worthy one: he is attempting to rethink the problem of the meaningfulness of religious language " in the context of the explicit rejection of the epistemological presuppositions of traditional empiricism " (p. vii) . The problematic in which the matter is treated is the linguistic discussions of the past decade in the Anglo-Saxon world. Though the author is not a " Thomist " of any recognizable school, his constant reference point is the work of St. Thomas, whose positions he revises and corrects when necessary in terms provided by the philosophy of Wilfred F. Sellars (with particular reference to his book, Science, Perception and Reality [London, 1963]) . It would be unjust in this short space to attempt to give even the main lines of the author's argument. However, the general movement of the book is as follows: first, we are introduced into the real problem of referring to God in language. This is developed further in a special note on the use of philosophy in theology, especially as performed by St. Thomas. (Ch. 1) The next chapter is no less than an attempt to reform basic positions in Thomistic epistemology. Thus, the way is opened for a direct consideration of special problems in our linguistic reference to God. Through an analysis of the relation of experience to the conceptual system that informs it, and by showing that the intelligibility of what is known is derived from the logic of the syntax of the system, which in turn originates from the "radical intentionality" of the intellect itself (p. 74), what results is an extremely negative qualification of our knowledge of God. God can never be understood in an affirmative judgment by appealing to the intelligible content of our particular conceptual system. Consequently, Chapter Three shows that the " Five Ways " are significant in that the existence of an unknown entity is posited, whose relationship with the world remains also unknown. A more positive interpretation of these proofs would mean an unjustifiable extrapolation from our own conceptual system. The final BOOK REVIEWS chapter treats on the role of faith in our discourse on God. The " material moves " of theological language are rendered intelligibile only in the light of faith, interpreted as a radical conformity to the divine intentionality. Whereas Professor Preller's aim is laudable and the performance suggestive , it will be surprising if there is not much stringent comment from even the more flexible of Thomists. There is so much that is not quite clear, e. g., the key notion of concept and conceptual system. Furthermore , it seems that many Thomistic positions on analogy, even if influenced by Cajetan, are not as "horrendously naive" (p. 19) as the author suggests. It is hard to see how the author could hope for a convincing performance without a more ample viewpoint. One feels that at least some cognizance of modern theories on analogy is demanded {e. g., that of Schillebeeckx and de Petter in their clear rejection of Cajetan). Likewise, the distinctly Kantian slant of the author's position might have been remedied by an incorporation of some elements of the transcendental method as favored by so many modern Thomists. However, that is to anticipate the dialogue that must result. Though this book may suffer {and merit) quite drastic refutation, honest questions have been asked and a highly intelligent attempt has been made to reinterpret the best of St. Thomas in the light of the best in modern linguistic philosophy. St. Mary's Mrmastery Wendouree, Victoria, Australia A. J. KELLY, c. ss. R. Infallibility of the Laity. By SAMUEL D. FEMIANO, C. S. B. New York: Herder...