Can God Destroy the World? St. Thomas Aquinas’ view in Disputed Questions on the Power of God
Can God Destroy the World? St. Thomas Aquinas’ view in Disputed Questions on the Power of God

Summary/Abstract: In the article, the author undertakes the problem of whether the world, which in the light of the philosophical theory of creation ex nihilo was introduced into being as indestructible in some of its elements, can be annihilated by God and turned into non-being again. The divine power, which is the principle that sustains the world in existence, is subjected to metaphysical analysis. In the first part, the considerations concern the order of potentia Dei absoluta and focus on whether the annihilation of creation is within the scope of God’s power and what such an action may consist in. In the second part, the subject of consideration is the ordered power of God (potentia Dei ordinata), which is related to the search for an answer to the question of whether God, from whom the effect in the form of creation comes, not only can but actually wants to deprive the world of existence? Since the annihilation of the world is related to the issue of God’s decision to stop the creative activity that has been initiated, in addition to the principle of power, God’s will is also taken into account in the last part of the analysis.

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