What’s Robert Moses Dryer’s view and contribution to the subject on divine simplicity?

Question 41: What’s Robert Moses Dryer’s view and contribution to the subject on divine simplicity?

This is an AI abbreviated presentation of “Defending Divine Simplicity: Robert Moses Dryer’s Contribution to Theology”

The Catholic doctrine of divine simplicity asserts that God is utterly unified, without parts, composition, or division. According to Robert Moses Dryer, this foundational teaching safeguards the transcendence, unity, and self-sufficiency of God. Yet, divine simplicity is often perceived as difficult to reconcile with the doctrine of the Trinity, which affirms that God is one being in three distinct Persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Defending Divine Simplicity, Dryer addresses this challenge by introducing his innovative Self-Standing Givenness Ontology (SSGO), which reframes relationality as intrinsic to God’s simple essence.

At the heart of Dryer’s contribution is his assertion that the self-standing relational modes of Father, Son, and Spirit are metaphysical primitives–irreducible, foundational realities within God’s singular essence. This premise allows Dryer to resolve the apparent tension between God’s simplicity and the relational distinctions of the Trinity. Through a deeply biblical and doctrinally grounded framework, Dryer offers a transformative account of divine simplicity that advances the tradition of classical theism while engaging contemporary theological concerns.

Understanding Divine Simplicity

For Dryer, divine simplicity is not merely a philosophical abstraction but a theological truth that reflects God’s absolute oneness, immutability, and independence. The doctrine asserts that God’s essence is identical to His existence, and all of His attributes–such as omnipotence, omniscience, and goodness–are not distinct qualities but are identical with God Himself. Dryer identifies six key elements that define divine simplicity:

  1. God as Pure Act:

God’s essence is fully actualized, meaning there is no unrealized potential within Him. Dryer draws on Thomistic theology to affirm that God’s essence and act of existence (esse) are identical, making Him the ultimate source of all being.

  1. No Composition:

Divine simplicity denies any composition in God. He does not have parts, properties, or attributes distinct from His essence. For example, God’s omniscience is not something added to Him but is identical to His being.

  1. Identity of Essence and Existence:

Unlike creatures, in which essence (what a thing is) and existence (that a thing is) are distinct, in God, they are one and the same. God is not a being among others but is being itself (ipsum esse subsistens).

  1. Immutability:

God does not change, as change implies a transition from one state to another, which would require composition. Divine simplicity ensures God’s immutability and eternal perfection.

  1. Unity in Diversity:

Despite being absolutely simple, God contains within Himself the relational distinctions of the Trinity. Dryer asserts that these distinctions are relational, not compositional, allowing simplicity and Trinitarian theology to coexist.

  1. Free from Dependency:

Divine simplicity underscores God’s independence. God’s being is not contingent on anything external, and He is unaffected by creation, remaining wholly self-sufficient.

The Challenge: Reconciling Simplicity and the Trinity

The primary challenge addressed in Dryer’s work is reconciling divine simplicity with the relational distinctions within the Trinity. How can God be utterly unified while existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Traditional attempts to address this tension have often risked falling into one of two errors:

  • Tritheism, which divides the Godhead into three separate beings.
  • Modalism, which reduces the Persons to mere roles or appearances.

Dryer’s solution to this challenge is grounded in his Self-Standing Givenness Ontology (SSGO), which reframes the relational distinctions of the Trinity as self-standing relational modes. These modes are intrinsic to God’s simple essence and do not introduce composition or dependency.

Self-Standing Relational Modes as Primitives

Dryer’s most significant contribution to the tradition is his assertion that the self-standing relational modes of the Trinity are metaphysical primitives. This premise provides a coherent explanation for the coexistence of divine simplicity and Trinitarian distinctions.

What Are Self-Standing Relational Modes?

  • Relational Modes: The Father (begetting), the Son (being begotten), and the Spirit (proceeding) are not separable parts of God but relational distinctions within His one essence.
  • Self-Standing: These relational modes are independent and intrinsic to God’s being. They are not dependent on anything external or additional to God.
  • Metaphysical Primitives: As primitives, these relational modes are foundational realities that cannot be further reduced or explained by something more basic. They are eternal, self-existent expressions of God’s singular essence.

Why This Premise Works:

  1. Preserves Divine Simplicity:

By framing relational modes as intrinsic to God’s essence, Dryer avoids introducing composition or multiplicity into God. The distinctions are not additive but are expressions of God’s unified being.

  1. Affirms Real Distinctions:

Unlike modalism, Dryer’s framework maintains that the distinctions among the divine Persons are real and eternal. The Father, Son, and Spirit are not interchangeable roles but distinct relational identities.

  1. Avoids Dependency:

The self-standing nature of the relational modes ensures that they do not depend on anything external to God. This preserves God’s independence and immutability.

Biblical and Doctrinal Foundations

Dryer grounds his framework in both scripture and classical theology, demonstrating that his premise is a natural development within the Catholic tradition.

Scriptural Foundations:

  1. Exodus 3:14 (“I AM WHO I AM”):

This passage reveals God’s self-existence and unchanging being, affirming the doctrine of divine simplicity.

  1. Deuteronomy 6:4 (“The LORD is one”):

The Shema proclaims God’s indivisible unity, a foundational principle for divine simplicity.

  1. John 1:1 (“In the beginning was the Word”) and John 14:26 (on the Spirit’s procession):

These passages affirm the relational distinctions within God, which Dryer interprets as eternal self-standing modes.

  1. Malachi 3:6 (“For I the LORD do not change”):

This text underscores God’s immutability, consistent with the doctrine of simplicity.

Theological Foundations:

Dryer draws heavily on the insights of St. Thomas Aquinas, who argued that the distinctions within the Trinity are relational, not compositional. Dryer builds on this foundation by framing these relational distinctions as self-standing primitives, providing greater metaphysical clarity.

Addressing Objections: Creation and Divine Freedom

One common objection to divine simplicity is its compatibility with God’s act of creation. If God’s essence is identical to His act of being, how can creation be contingent and not necessary? Dryer addresses this objection by emphasizing God’s freedom:

  • God’s Creative Act: Creation is an expression of God’s essence but is not necessary for His being. God creates freely, not out of necessity.
  • Contingency of Creation: The world is contingent, not because of any limitation in God, but because creation arises from God’s free and sovereign choice.
  • Preserving Simplicity: God’s act of creation does not introduce change or complexity into His being. His essence remains wholly unified and self-sufficient.

The Self-Standing Givenness Ontology

Dryer’s Self-Standing Givenness Ontology (SSGO) serves as the philosophical and theological framework for his account of divine simplicity and the Trinity. SSGO positions relational self-givenness as the foundational principle of God’s being, integrating simplicity and relationality into a cohesive whole.

Core Principles of SSGO:

  1. Relationality as Intrinsic:

Relationality is not something external to God but is inherent in His simple essence.

  1. Relational Modes as Expressions of Unity:

The relational modes of Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct yet unified expressions of God’s essence.

  1. Timeless and Eternal:

The relational distinctions are eternal realities, not temporal or sequential processes.

  1. Avoidance of Contradiction:

SSGO resolves the tension between simplicity and relationality by framing relational distinctions as intrinsic primitives.

Significance of Dryer’s Contribution

Dryer’s premise of self-standing relational modes as primitives is a groundbreaking development in Catholic theology. It provides a robust solution to one of the most enduring tensions in Trinitarian theology while remaining faithful to classical theism. Here’s why this contribution is significant:

  1. Advances Trinitarian Theology:

Dryer deepens our understanding of how the relational distinctions within God coexist with His simplicity, avoiding both tritheism and modalism.

  1. Enriches Divine Simplicity:

By integrating relationality into simplicity, Dryer redefines simplicity as dynamic unity rather than abstract negation.

  1. Engages Contemporary Thought:

Dryer’s emphasis on relationality aligns with modern theological and philosophical concerns, making his work relevant to contemporary discussions.

  1. Strengthens Doctrinal Coherence:

Dryer’s framework ties together biblical revelation, classical theology, and metaphysical rigor into a unified account of God’s being.

Conclusion: A Transformative Account of Divine Simplicity

Robert Moses Dryer’s Defending Divine Simplicity is a landmark work that offers a transformative account of divine simplicity and the Trinity. Through his Self-Standing Givenness Ontology, Dryer reframes relationality as intrinsic to God’s simple essence, resolving long-standing tensions in theology. His assertion that self-standing relational modes are metaphysical primitives provides a coherent and innovative framework that advances the Catholic tradition while addressing contemporary challenges. Ultimately, Dryer’s work affirms that divine simplicity is not merely an abstract doctrine but a profound truth about the nature of God, safeguarding His unity, transcendence, and relational dynamism.