“ There are things that are acted upon, but do not act; such are bodies: there is one Who acts but is not acted upon ”
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1274). copy citation
| Author | Thomas Aquinas |
|---|---|
| Source | Summa Theologica |
| Topic | body acts |
| Date | 1274 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/17611/pg17611-images.html |
Context
“Whether the heavenly bodies impose necessity on those things which are subject to their influence? _______________________
FIRST ARTICLE [I, Q. 115, Art. 1]
Whether a Body Can Be Active?
Objection 1: It would seem that no bodies are active. For Augustine says (De Civ. Dei v, 9) : "There are things that are acted upon, but do not act; such are bodies: there is one Who acts but is not acted upon; this is God: there are things that both act and are acted upon; these are the spiritual substances."
Obj. 2: Further, every agent except the first agent requires in its work a subject susceptible of its action.”
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