The light of God in Thomas Aquinas: analogy or metaphor?

Authors

  • Ramón Díaz Perfecto Pontificia Università della Santa Croce

Keywords:

Thomas Aquinas, Light, Analogy, Metaphor, Lichtmetaphysik

Abstract

Twentieth-century studies on the metaphysics of light (Lichtmetaphysik) have predominantly examined thinkers influenced by Neoplatonic cosmogonies, notably figures such as Robert Grosseteste and Bonaventure. Thomas Aquinas’s discourse on light is often overlooked or dismissed as “merely metaphorical”, in contrast to other approaches recognized as genuinely analogical. This paper explores the reasons behind this interpretation and argues for its inadequacy. We contend, therefore, that Aquinas’s philosophy of light rightfully belongs within the broader intellectual tradition of medieval Lichtmetaphysik, in which light functions as a fundamental ontological principle.

References

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Published

2025-12-22

How to Cite

Díaz Perfecto, R. (2025). The light of God in Thomas Aquinas: analogy or metaphor?. Archivo Dominicano, 46, 117–130. Retrieved from https://archivodominicano.dominicos.org/ojs/article/view/v46-diaz

Issue

Vol. 46 (2025)

Section

Artículos

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