Jay'sAnalysis Debating Roman Catholic Absolute Simplicity & Aquinas: Jay Dyer Vs. Dr. Francis Feingold
Mar 19, 2026
Dr. Francis Feingold, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at St. Patrick's Seminary, specializes in Aquinas and medieval metaphysics. He debates Thomistic divine simplicity, actus purus, and how attributes relate to God. The conversation contrasts Eastern essence–energies, relations vs accidents, theophanies, analogical predication, and implications for Trinity, incarnation, and revelation.
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Guest Explains His Dissertation Focus
- Francis introduces his dissertation on divine impassibility and how Aquinas' doctrines conflict with love depending on the beloved.
- He says his thesis defended reconciling pure actuality and simplicity with love's dependence on the beloved.
Why Aquinas Derives Simplicity From First Cause
- Aquinas links divine simplicity to the first-cause argument: a truly first being must be pure act, without potentiality.
- Francis Feingold explains actus purus arises from chasing explanations for change until something requires no further actualizer.
Essence Energy Distinction Preserves Participation
- The Eastern (Palamite) tradition separates God's essence from his energies to preserve both transcendence and real participation.
- Jay Dyer cites John of Damascus and Gregory Palamas to show energies let uncreated divine action be multiple without compromising essence.