Chapter 132 — Arguments that seem to show that God does not have providence over particulars

Nevertheless, some may think that singulars are not arranged by God. For a person arranges by planning only what he knows. But knowledge of singulars may well seem to be lacking in God, for the reason that singulars are known not by the intellect but by the senses. God, who is wholly non-bodily, can have no sense knowledge, but only intellectual knowledge. Consequently, singulars may seem to lie outside the scope of divine providence.

Moreover, singulars are infinite, and knowledge of infinity is impossible, since the infinite as such is unknown. Therefore, singulars seemingly escape the divine knowledge and providence.

Again, many singulars are contingent. But it is impossible to have certain knowledge of such things. Accordingly, since God’s knowledge must be absolutely certain, it seems that singulars are not known or regulated by God.

Besides, singulars do not all exist simultaneously, for some things decay only to have others take their place. But there can be no knowledge of non-existent things. Hence, if God has knowledge of singulars, there must be some things which he begins and ceases to know, and this would lead to the conclusion that he is mutable. Apparently, therefore, he does not know and arrange singulars.