Publisher's Synopsis
Man is metaphysically incapable of knowing the Deity, that is, the essence of God in itself. This does not mean that God cannot be known in His nature. In fact, from the entities (which are His effects) we can reach Him and, by Ways of remotion and analogy, leave ignorance behind. Even so, we will never know what God Himself is. Not even an angel can know Him as such: he too has a finite mind that knows itself to be surpassed by the divine infinitude. St. Thomas takes on the intellectual task of getting as close as possible to this essence. Thus he defines the so-called "entitative" attributes. They are the perfections that are directly related to the Being of God. This is the subject of the present book. The "operative" attributes, which constitute the interior life of God, will remain for the next volume. By studying both, we will obtain the greatest knowledge of the divine essence that reason can have. This volume consists of sixteen chapters, an epilogue, and abundant notes. The chapters are distributed as follows: 1-Way of remotion. 2-The attributes of God. 3-How we know God. 4-The names of God. 5-God is eternal. 6-God is simple. 7-God is not a body. 8-God is his own essence. 9-God is perfect. 10-God is infinite. 11-God is immutable. 12-God is unique. 13-God is immense. 14-God is good. 15-God is truth. 16-Pantheism. St. Thomas expounds his doctrine mainly in Summa contra Gentiles and in Summa Theologica with abundant arguments. They are two very rich works that reflect Aquinas's proverbial capacity for reflection and response.
