Autor: Lonergan, Bernard J.F.

Buch: The Trinune God: Systematics

Titel: The Triune God: Systematics

Stichwort: Relationen; äußere Relation: Hinfufügung einer neuen Wirklichkeit zu einer internen Relation? Lösung

Kurzinhalt: In light of what we have said, our answer to the question is that an external relation does not add to the reality of an internal relation another reality intrinsic to the subject.

Textausschnitt: QUESTION 34
Does an external relation add another reality intrinsic to the subject besides the reality of the internal relation?

Meaning of the Question

699a Generally speaking, an external relation is more determinate than an internal relation. For an internal relation results from the very notion and intelligibility of the subject. But an external relation arises not from the subject alone but from the comparison between subject and term. Thus, it is of the very nature of an accident that it inhere in some substance, and it is of the very nature of a quantified object that it relate to every other quantified object in some proportion. But it is not of the nature of an accident that it inhere in this substance, nor is it of the nature of a quantified object that it relate to this quantified object in such or such a specific arithmetical proportion. (Fs)
699b Accordingly, since the truth-correspondence between the intellect and the thing must be adamantly maintained, wherever some greater determination in truths is noticed, an equal determination must be acknowledged in things. Hence, since an external relation is more determinate than an internal relation, then, by reason of the truth of the external relation another reality must surely be acknowledged in addition to that which is acknowledged by reason of the truth of the internal relation. (Fs)

699c Nevertheless, there immediately arises a doubt whether that other reality that is proper to an external relation is intrinsic to the subject of an internal relation, or perhaps extrinsic to the subject and to be found rather in the term. Hence the present question of whether an external relation adds another reality intrinsic to the subject over and above the reality of the internal relation. (Fs)

Solution to the question

704a In light of what we have said, our answer to the question is that an external relation does not add to the reality of an internal relation another reality intrinsic to the subject.1

To put it in concrete terms, if A is really and truly twice what B is, then that 'twice' has its truth-correspondence through the reality of an internal relation by which A really regards all quantified beings and, at the same time, through the reality of B which objectively determines that indeterminate internal relation. (Fs) (notabene)

705a Again, if A is really and truly twice B, then that 'twice' does not have truth-correspondence through a reality that is received in A itself and is added to the reality of its internal relation. (Fs)