57. Simply and Somewhat: The Fundamental Distinction in Philosophy

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Lecture Notes

Main Topics #

• The Simply/Somewhat Distinction: The fundamental difference between what is absolutely true (simpliciter) versus what is true in a limited, incomplete, or imperfect way (secundum quid)
• Political Philosophy: How the best laws simply are not necessarily the best laws for a given people
• Ethics and Human Happiness: How Aristotle’s understanding of happiness as achievable “as men can be happy” differs from perfect happiness
• Theological Application: How God is simply infinite while creatures are somewhat infinite; how simplicity and perfection relate in God versus creatures
• The Error of Confusion: How mixing up these senses creates serious philosophical mistakes

Key Arguments #

The Political/Ethical Distinction #

• Solon’s Principle: Solon told his admirer he did not give Athens the best laws possible, but the best laws they would accept—illustrating that what is best simply differs from what is best for particular circumstances
• Aristotle’s Government: Aristotle distinguishes between the best government simply and the best government for a given people under particular conditions
• The Vocation Problem: The celibate life is better simply, but for a particular person whose nature or circumstances make it unsuitable, the married life may be better for that person
• The Contemplative Life: The contemplative life is better simply, but not necessarily suitable for everyone

Aristotelian Realism on Happiness #

• Happiness as a Man Can Have It: Since humans are mortal and subject to change, they cannot have perfect happiness; thus Aristotle says “let us say they are happy as men”
• Augustine’s Addition: If one in heaven knew the happiness would eventually end, it would not truly be happiness—perfect happiness requires permanence
• Conditions That Diminish Happiness: The knowledge of mortality and the contingency of human life diminish the perfection of happiness achievable in this life

Theology: God’s Infinity and Simplicity #

• God Simply Infinite: Only God is infinite without qualification; all other beings are limited
• Creatures Somewhat Infinite: Angels lack matter and are thus somewhat infinite; the human soul, existing without matter, is somewhat infinite; human knowledge is somewhat infinite insofar as it grasps universals
• Infinity Through Knowledge of Universals: Because the human mind knows universal being, one, and similar transcendentals, it participates in a kind of infinity
• Simplicity and Perfection in God: In material creatures, the composed is more perfect than the simple (a dog is more perfect than a stone but more complex); in God, simplicity and perfection go together—God is simple and supremely perfect
• Structure of Summa Theologiae: Thomas eliminates six kinds of composition from God (not a body, no matter-form composition, no essence-existence distinction, no substance-accident distinction, no genus-difference composition, no accidents) before universally establishing God’s complete simplicity
• Why Summa Contra Gentiles Differs: The Summa Contra Gentiles begins with universal simplicity argument because it addresses advanced Dominican theologians being sent to argue against Avicenna and others, whereas the Summa Theologiae proceeds pedagogically from particular to universal for beginners

The Materialism Error #

• Matter as “Beginning”: Materialists confuse what comes before in some respect (matter in changeable things) with what comes before simply (pure act)
• The Role of Potency and Act: In things that change, potency comes before act; but simply speaking, act comes before potency because what actualizes potency must already be in act
• Mathematical Knowledge: Modern philosophers wrongly prioritize mathematical knowledge because of its certitude, confusing how we know something (with certitude) with what we know (the object itself)

Important Definitions #

• Simply (simpliciter): Absolutely, without qualification, in the fullest or most perfect sense
• Somewhat (secundum quid): In a limited, incomplete, or imperfect way; with qualification or restriction
• Haplos: Greek term for “simply” or “absolutely”

Examples & Illustrations #

Solon and Athens #

When asked whether he gave Athens the best laws a city could have, Solon replied: “No, I gave them the best laws that they would accept.” This exemplifies how what is best simply (the ideal law) differs from what is best for a given people in particular circumstances.

The Celibate and Married Life #

The celibate life is objectively better simply because it allows greater devotion to God; however, for a person whose nature or circumstances make celibacy unsuitable, the married life may be better for that person. Confusing these leads to the error of thinking everyone should pursue religious life.

Sam Johnson’s Witty Observation #

Berquist references a famous joke about Sam Johnson regarding second marriages, illustrating how human hope sometimes triumphs over experience despite aging wisdom.

Mortality and Happiness #

Aristotle recognizes that knowledge of one’s mortality diminishes one’s sense of happiness, since perfect happiness requires permanence and complete satisfaction.

Notable Quotes #

“I didn’t give the Athenians the best laws that a city can have, I gave them the best laws that they would accept.” — Solon (via Plutarch)

“Let us say that they are happy as men” — Aristotle, on human happiness

“If they ever knew it was going to end, it wouldn’t be [happiness].” — Augustine, on perfect happiness in heaven

“God is wise simply. Man is a lover of wisdom, wise somewhat.” — Berquist, summarizing the philosophical tradition

“God is very ensume simple. He’s truly simple and supremely so.” — Boethius (De Trinitate), quoted by Thomas Aquinas

Questions Addressed #

How does the simply/somewhat distinction apply to ethics and politics? #

Answer: What is best or better simply (the ideal celibate life, perfect laws, the contemplative life) need not be best for a particular person given their nature or circumstances. The failure to distinguish these senses leads to the error of demanding everyone pursue the objectively best course.

How do Aristotle and Thomas handle human happiness? #

Answer: Both recognize that perfect happiness—the ultimate end and greatest good—cannot be fully achieved in human life due to mortality and contingency. Thus humans can have happiness “as men,” imperfectly, but not the simple infinite happiness that belongs to God alone.

How is God both simple and infinite? #

Answer: In God, simplicity and perfection coincide. God is simply (absolutely) infinite because God lacks all composition. Creatures are somewhat infinite—angels through lacking matter, human souls through existing without matter, human minds through knowing universals—but never simply infinite.

Why does Thomas structure the Summa Theologiae differently from the Summa Contra Gentiles regarding God’s simplicity? #

Answer: The Summa Theologiae addresses beginners and proceeds pedagogically from particular examples (six kinds of composition in creatures) to universal principle (God’s complete simplicity). The Summa Contra Gentiles addresses advanced theologians and begins directly with the universal syllogistic argument, since it was written for Dominican theologians debating philosophical theologians in Spain.

Connections to Previous Material #

This lecture continues the examination of how confusion between equivocal senses of words generates philosophical error. The simply/somewhat distinction is foundational for understanding proper use of reason across all branches of philosophy.