Monologium, on the Being of God23 Chapter XXIII. How it is better conceived to exist everywhere than in every place.
Chapter XXIII. How it is better conceived to exist everywhere than in every place.
But, since it is plain that this supreme Nature is not more truly in all places than in all existing things, not as if it were contained by them, but as containing all, by permeating all, why should it not be said to be everywhere, in this sense, that it may be understood rather to be in all existing things, than merely in all places, since this sense is supported by the truth of the fact, and is not forbidden by the proper signification of the word of place?
For we often quite properly apply terms of place to objects which are not places; as, when I say that the understanding is there in the soul, where rationality is. For, though there and where are adverbs of place, yet, by no local limitation, does the mind contain anything, nor is either rationality or understanding contained.
Hence, as regards the truth of the matter, the supreme Nature is more appropriately said to be everywhere, in this sense, that it is in all existing things, than in this sense, namely that it is merely in all places. And since, as the reasons set forth above show, it cannot exist otherwise, it must so be in all existing things, that it is one and the same perfect whole in every individual thing simultaneously.
Verum cum constet eamdem summam naturam non magis esse in omnibus locis, quam in omnibus quae sunt, non velut quae contineatur, quae penetrando cuncta contineat: cur non dicatur esse ubique, hoc sensu, ut potius intelligatur esse in omnibus quae sunt, quam tantum in omnibus locis, cum hunc intellectum et rei veritas exhibeat, et ipsa localis verbi proprietas nequaquam prohibeat. Solemus namque localia verba saepe irreprehensibiliter attribuere rebus, quae nec loca sunt, nec circumscriptione locali continentur, velut si dicam ibi esse intellectum in anima, ubi est rationalitas. Nam cum ibi, et ubi, adverbia localia sint; non tamen locali circumscriptione aut anima continet aliquid, aut intellectus aut rationalitas continetur. Quare summa natura secundum rei veritatem, aptius dicitur ubique esse secundum hanc significationem, ut intelligatur esse in omnibus quae sunt, quam si intelligatur tantum in omnibus locis. Et quoniam, sicut supra expositae rationes docent, aliter esse non potest; necesse est eam sic esse in omnibus quae sunt, ut una eademque perfecte tota simul sit in singulis.