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Title: La distinction entre virtus et potentia Dei selon saint Thomas d'Aquin
Author(s): FORNEROD, Mireille
Journal: Revue Théologique de Louvain
Volume: 45    Issue: 4   Date: 2014   
Pages: 502-532
DOI: 10.2143/RTL.45.4.1000002

Abstract :
La distinction entre le concept de virtus et celui de potentia, lorsque l’Aquinate les applique à la puissance divine, a été peu étudiée à ce jour. Cet article traite la signification commune des termes, ainsi que leur distinction. Le contexte est analogique: Thomas prend appui sur le concept de puissance créée, et en particulier sur la vertu humaine, qui constitue une variante de cette puissance. Cet article décrit ce processus analogique. Il montre que la raison commune de virtus assume pleinement la signification de potentia et accentue quelques-unes de ses connotations.



The distinction between the concept of virtus and that of potentia, when Aquinas applies them to divine power, has not been studied much to this day. This article looks at the common meaning of the terms, and the distinction between them. Aquinas proceeds by analogy: he bases his argument on the concept of created power, and in particular human virtue, which is one of its variants. The present article describes this analogical process, aiming to show that the common understanding of virtus fully includes the meaning of potentia, and emphasizing some of its connotations.

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