On Analogy: An Essay Historical and Systematic (Europaische Hochschulschriften Reihe Xxiii, Theologie)

European University Studies

Ralf M. W. Stammberger

Europaische Hochschulschriften Publications Universitaires Europeennes

Series XXIII

On Analogy

Theology Reihe XXIII Serie XXIII Theologie Theologie

An Essay Historical and Systematic

VoI.IBd. 540

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PETER LANG

PETER LANG

Frankfurt am Main· Berlin· Bern· New York· Paris' Wien

Europll.ischer Verlag der Wissenschaften

Die Deutsche Blbliothek - CIP-Einheitsaufnahme Stammberger, Ralf M. W.: On analogy: an essay historical and systematic 1 Ralf M. W. Stammberger. - Frankfurt am Main; Berlin; Bern; New York; Paris; Wlen : Lang, 1995 (European university studies: Ser. 23, Theology; Vol. 540) ISBN 3-631-48909-9 NE: Europiiische Hochschulschriften 123

ISSN 0721-3409 ISBN 3-631-48909-9 US ISBN 0-8204-2903-1

© Peter Lang GmbH Europalscher Verlag der Wissenschallen Frankfurt am Main 1995 All rights reserved. All parts of this publication are protected by copyright. Any utilisation outside the strict limits 01 the copyright law, without the permission of the publisher, Is forbidden and liable to prosecution. This applies In particular to reproductions, translations, microfilming, and storage and processing In electronic retrieval systems. Printed In Germany 1 2 3 4 5

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Contents

CONTENTS:

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PREFACE

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I. ANALOGY IN GREEK PHILOSOPHY

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II. ANALOGY IN ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

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III. ANALOGY IN THE DISCUSSION OF THE lWENTIETH CENTURY

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IV. AN ATTEMPT AT A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON ANALOGY

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BIBLIOGRAPHY (OF WORKS CONSULTED):

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• II Greek Philosophy

I. Analogv in Greek Philosophv In this chapter I wish to establish that analogy is a basic notion both for Plato and Aristotle, the difference being that while for Plato it is a principle posited by the supreme being, the Good itself, ontologically, for Aristotle it is basic as a logical principle. It seems that the earliest traceable occurrence of a treatment of analogy is to be found in a fragment on music by the Pythagorean Archytas of Tarentum. I He uses both the terms IlEcrm and <xv<XAoytm interchangeably, thus reflecting the mathematical approach to music of Pythagoras and his school. The mathematical understanding of analogy was to prevail until Plato introduced a specifically philosophical use of analogy in his treatment of

I 47 B 2; Diels / Kranz 1951, pp.435[ C[ Track 1978, pp.630; Lyttkens 1953, p.16 and Mondin 1963, p.1 who probably misunderstands it. It seems that Track relies heavily on

Lyttkens, who appears to ignore the fact that Archytas' remarks aTe on music not mathematics, although the two were of course related for the Pythagoreans. Archytas distinguishes apte~lTt'tKa, ye(J)~ll1fpt1ca and

\)1tEva,VtlKa, av KaAEOVtl ap~IOVIKav.

TIle first two will appear again in Aristotle's treatment of analogy (and are also caned the

continuous and the discrete proportion because of their respective fonn) as a principle of justice in the Nicomachean Ethics, and can be caned strictly mathematical (e.g. for the continuous proportion a : b : c we could fill in the arguments 2: 4 : 8 => 2 : 4 = 4 : 8 => a: 2a = 2a : 4a => I = I or for the discrete proportion a : b :: c : d the arguments =

2:4

3 : 6 => a : 2a = a : 2a => I = I [Note that the transition involved in this example from

"::" - the symbolism is taken from Dalferth 1981; cf also Burrell 1973, p.IO - to U=" holds true only for mathematical proportions; on the problem see also Mascall 1949, pp.10lff; esp. pp.l08f, n.2]). TIle third describes what in Greek music was considered to be an hannonious accord, but was not strictly mathematical, and duly forgotten in the ensuing debate on analogy (e.g. 3: 4 : 6 => 3: 4 = 4 : 6 =>a : a + 1/3a = 2a - 1/3 2a : 2a => 1 = -I !). It nevertheless seems quite interesting to compare it with the division of the world into two fundamentally distinct realms in Pannenides and Plato.

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Greek Philosophy

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