Supernatural Communication of Natural Truths?

[Geremia]

Is there a supernatural communication of natural truths? Maritain writes in his Degrees of Knowledge (1959; p. 428): “The order of grace neither abolishes nor violates the limits of nature.” And (Ibid.): “Faith and the gifts of the Holy Ghost, in making perfect the reason, only clarify the sight.” Does not this contradict St. Thomas Aquinas’s affirmative response to the questions “Whether the gift of knowledge/understanding/wisdom is practical knowledge?” (newadvent.org/summa/3009.htm#article3 , newadvent.org/summa/3008.htm#article3 , newadvent.org/summa/3045.htm#article3 , respectively)? He writes of the gift of knowledge that “secondarily, it extends to works, since we are directed in our actions by the knowledge of matters of faith, and of conclusions drawn therefrom.” Cannot these “conclusions drawn therefrom” be natural truths? Thanks

 

[Katholish]

Yes, there can be supernatural communication of truths which are natually knowable. I am not sure if this is entirely what you are looking for, but it answers the question. Truths like “God exists” are considered natural truths insofar as they can be known from reason alone. However, God can also choose to reveal such a truth. Indeed St. Thomas addresses this in the very first question of the Prima Pars, and explains that even though a truth is natural, it is not always easy to arrive at and there is often an admixture of error. Truths like the existance of God are revealed so as to make them more accessible to mankind because they are in some way necessary and of the utmost importance.

 

[SeaShoreGirl]

I think that there is. If you look at many cultures…even primitave ones have creation stories or cain and able stories similar to christianity/judism.

I truly believe God communitcated with those people to somehow bring them to a greater truth than they naturally could of recieved. American indians, south Africans…etc

 

[Earnest_Bunbury]

Summa 1-1. Q. 62. a. 5: “The reason whereof is because grace perfects nature according to the manner of the nature; as every perfection is received in the subject capable of perfection, according to its mode.” St. Thomas is discussing angels but the statement above is general truth that “grace perfects nature”.

All truth exists in God in its perfection. In the fall, creation was reduced to the inherent nature minus grace. Grace is the participation in the life of God. Jesus restored the ability to participate in grace. Faith being a grace, is our participation in the perfection of natural truth, according to the mode of the recipient.

The Ten Commandments are a perfected version of the laws written on our heart that were obscured by the passions in our fallen nature. They extend from the natural law and go beyond it to things we could not come to on our own, such as the Sabbath. When it comes to understanding, wisdom, or knowledge in faith, it includes the grace that perfects, in the mode of the one receiving that grace.

 

[Geremia]

Yes, there can be supernatural communication of truths which are natually knowable. I am not sure if this is entirely what you are looking for, but it answers the question. Truths like “God exists” are considered natural truths insofar as they can be known from reason alone. However, God can also choose to reveal such a truth. Indeed St. Thomas addresses this in the very first question of the Prima Pars, and explains that even though a truth is natural, it is not always easy to arrive at and there is often an admixture of error. Truths like the existance of God are revealed so as to make them more accessible to mankind because they are in some way necessary and of the utmost importance.

Yes, thank you for the good response.

By “natural truths” I mean truths about natural entities, not truths known through natural entities, for the latter would include even supernatural truths, like God. Specifically, e.g., could an angel or the Holy Spirit tell a scientist with the gift of knowledge and understanding about the particulars, e.g., of how a hydrogen atom works?

Thanks

 

[Geremia]

Summa 1-1. Q. 62. a. 5: “The reason whereof is because grace perfects nature according to the manner of the nature; as every perfection is received in the subject capable of perfection, according to its mode.” St. Thomas is discussing angels but the statement above is general truth that “grace perfects nature”.

So in effect if there is no knowledge obtained through the senses, grace from the gifts of the Holy Spirit have nothing to perfect?

 

[Katholish]

Yes, thank you for the good response.

By “natural truths” I mean truths about natural entities, not truths known through natural entities, for the latter would include even supernatural truths, like God. Specifically, e.g., could an angel or the Holy Spirit tell a scientist with the gift of knowledge and understanding about the particulars, e.g., of how a hydrogen atom works?

Thanks

Overlooking how we should properly understand the term natural, I can jump to your specific example and say yes, God could reveal to someone how a hydrogen atom “works”.

 

[Geremia]

Overlooking how we should properly understand the term natural, I can jump to your specific example and say yes, God could reveal to someone how a hydrogen atom “works”.

, I-II q. 109 a. 1 c.Summa Theologiæ (“Whether without grace man can know any truth?”) answered my question:

[Man] does not need a new light added to his natural light in order to know the truth in all things, but only in some that surpass his natural knowledge. And yet at times God miraculously instructs some by His grace in things that can be known by natural reason, even as He sometimes brings about miraculously what nature can do.