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given your documents how does the catholic church define divine simplicity?

GPT The concept of Divine Simplicity in Catholic theology, especially as reflected in the works of Thomas Aquinas, denotes that God is not composed of parts, unlike the complex composition of creatures. This concept is crucial because it distinguishes God from all of creation by affirming that God is entirely unique, indivisible, and unchanging. According to Aquinas, the principle of Divine Simplicity holds that God is wholly simple and not made up of components as creatures are. This is supported by a few key arguments:

God as the First Act: It is argued that all beings originate from a first being, which is God. In any entity that transitions from potentiality to actuality, potentiality is temporally prior to actuality, though it is naturally posterior. Essentially, act must precede potency, both in nature and in time, as every potential being is actualized by an actual being. Consequently, the being that actualizes all others and is not derived from anything else must be the First Act without any admixture of potency. If God had any potentiality, there would need to be another being to actualize Him, which is not the case. Hence, God is Pure Act, meaning fully actual without potential, indicating simplicity.

Absence of Composition: In complex entities, there is always a mix of potency and act, with parts in potency to the whole or to each other. However, no composite thing can be the First Act. Since God is the First Act, He cannot be composite and, therefore, must be absolutely simple.

Unity and Indivisibility: It's also emphasized that in God, there is no composition or plurality. References from Hilary and Boethius support the notion that in God, there's no multiplicity or components as found in human beings, and that true unity lacks number. Consequently, God is without composition and entirely simple​​.

Divine Simplicity, thus, fundamentally asserts that God's being is not in any way composite but is perfectly unified and simple, lacking the complexity and potentiality found in created beings. This concept is foundational in understanding the nature of God in Catholic theology as per the teachings and writings of Thomas Aquinas.

The concept of Divine Simplicity, as captured in the teachings of the Catholic Church and articulated through the works of theologians like Thomas Aquinas, emphasizes the pure unity and non-composite nature of God. This doctrine asserts that God is not a being composed of parts or elements, as creatures are, but is entirely singular and indivisible. The principle of Divine Simplicity can be unpacked through several key arguments:

1. God as Pure Act (Actus Purus): This argument posits that God, being the First Cause or the Prime Mover, is not subject to potentiality but is Pure Act. In other words, God is entirely actualized, possessing no unrealized potential. This notion stems from the understanding that in any causal series, the first cause must be purely actual, having no potentiality, to initiate the series without itself being moved or caused by anything else.

2. Absence of Composition: Divine Simplicity also entails that God is not composed of parts, whether they be physical or metaphysical. This includes the absence of a distinction between essence and existence, substance and accidents, or matter and form. God's essence is His existence, and there is no differentiation within God between what God is (His essence) and that He is (His existence).

3. Unity and Indivisibility: In line with Divine Simplicity, God is perfectly one and indivisible. This unity is not merely the absence of division but a positive perfection indicating the completeness and fullness of being. In God, there is no multiplicity or spatial division, and His being is not subject to change or fragmentation.

4. Negation of Composition: The doctrine further asserts that any composition, whether physical or metaphysical, implies potentiality since the parts have the potential to form the whole. As God is

The principle of Divine Simplicity is illuminated by the understanding that, in God, the multitude of forms found in the effects of His creation exist as one within His divine nature. This unity of forms in God does not result in a composition or multiplicity within God Himself, but rather showcases His singular and operative power. The divine nature causes its effects not by employing external forces or entities but through its own inherent and singular nature. As a result, the forms of all created things, though diverse and manifold in their existence, are unified within the divine essence. This unity does not lead to a composite nature in God; rather, it underlines the simplicity and indivisibility of the divine essence. Just as the diversity of things understood by the divine intellect does not introduce composition into the understanding itself, the multiplicity of forms present in creation, when viewed as existing within God's operative power, does not compromise the simplicity of God. This understanding echoes the central tenets of Divine Simplicity, affirming that God's being is not composite but is perfectly unified, simple, and lacking the complexity and potentiality found in created beings【12†source】.