Summa Slog

Q4A1-2:  It makes intuitive sense that God is perfect.  It is illuminative to remember that perfect actually means "complete."  As so often, my mind goes to grammar.  The perfect tense is an action that not only occurred in the past, but was completed.  St. Thomas obviously has an opinion in the "open theism" debate!  Nevertheless, this line of questioning, especially in A2 is difficult for me.  I have heard that the Western tradition has been relatively more Aristotelian whereas the East has tended more Platonic.  This line of questioning, and this speculation about God Himself seem rather Platonic to me.  A2 seems to be contemplating the existence of Platonic Ideals within God.  To be clear, it is not that I disagree, but it does not fire my imagination.  Perhaps it should, after all, what ought one more contemplate than the Deity?  However, I am reminded of various Eastern heresies (Nestorianism, monothelitism, etc) and cannot help but think that they spring from too much speculation in such areas.  Frankly, I am more excited to read what St. Thomas has to say about ethics, moral duties, and politics.  That is part of the reason I am doing this slog; I do not want to solely feed my natural inclinations of interest, but rather, for a time, to submit to the great Scholastic Master.  Speaking of submission, my lack of inclination to these speculations also leads to my attitude toward the heresies of late antiquity: "Council of Bishops made a decision?  Great, let's move on.  Look, we can build an aqueduct here."  I am an American, after all.