THIN CHA HIN HU

Trch : Tng Lun Thn Hc ca Thnh Toma Acquyno

VN NN:

Xem ra Thin Cha khng hin hu.

1.

Nu mt trong hai vt tng phn nhau l v hn, vt kia b tiu dit. M Thin Cha, theo ngha ca tn, l s thin v hn. vy, gi nh Thin Cha hin hu, th khng th c s c pht xut c; m tht s c s c trong th gian. Nn Thin Cha khng hin hu.

2.

Tht l d tha nu gi nh mt ci g vn c th c sn xut bi t nguyn nhn; m thc s c sn xut do nhiu nguyn nhn. Xem ra tt c mi s vt chng ta thy trong th gian, c th da vo cc nguyn nhn khc, trong trng hp gi nh Thin Cha khng hin hu, v tt c mi s vt c th qui v mt nguyn nhn, l ci thin nhin. V tt c mi s vt c ch t do c th qui v mt nguyn

nhn, tc l tr nng nhn loi, hoc mun nhn loi. Vy, khng cn gi nh s hin hu ca Thin Cha.

TRI LI:

ni trong Ngi v Thin Cha: Ta l ng Hin Hu duy nht (Xh 3.14).

TR LI:

S hin hu ca Thin Cha c chng minh theo ng o, tc l nm con ng.

Con ng th nht v r rng hn, l chng c do s chuyn ng. Mt s kin chc chn v hin nhin vi gic quan chng ta, l trong th gii c nhng vt ang trong chuyn ng, m ci g trong chuyn ng th b ng bi vt khc, v khng vt no c th b ng, m khng trong tim-th-tnh i vi s vt m n b ng hng v . Cn vt to nn s chuyn ng, th hin th. V s lm chuyn ng l lm cho mt vt thay i t tim-th-tnh n hin-th-tnh. M khng vt no c th b lm cho thay i t tim-th-tnh n hin-th-tnh, tr phi phi nh mt vt trng thi

hin th. Nh vy ci g hin th nng, tc l la, lm cho ci, l vt tim th nng, ha nn hin th nng, v nh lm chuyn ng v thay i ci. Nhng khng c th cng mt vt, mt trt tim-th-tnh v hin-th-tnh di cng mt phng din1, nhng ch c th nh th di nhng phng din khc nhau. V ci g hin th nng, khng c th mt trt l tim th nng; nhng mt trt, n c th tim th lnh. Cho nn, mt vt di cng mt phng din v cng mt th cch, khng th va l vt lm chuyn ng va l vt b ng, ngha l, vt y khng th lm chuyn ng chnh mnh. Bi , vt no ang chuyn ng (ang trong chuyn ng) th b ng bi mt vt na. Nu mt vt lm chuyn ng mt vt khc, m chnh n cng trong s chuyn ng th n cng cn b ng bi vt khc na. V vt khc ny li cng phi b ng bi mt vt khc na. Nhng tnh trng lm chuyn ng ny khng th ko di ti v cng, v nh vy khng c vt lm chuyn ng u tin, tc l nht ng c; m nu khng c vt lm chuyn ng u tin th cng khng c nhng vt lm chuyn ng khc k tip, v l cc vt tc ng chuyn ng k tip n sau, c th lm chuyn ng theo mc chng b lm chuyn ng bi vt lm chuyn ng u tin, nh cy gy ch chuyn ng nh n
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Chng ta s r thm nguyn l ny nh sau: C mt s yu t s yu hoc nn tng ni tri thc con ngi, c dng lm c bn cho mi chn l khc. Cng nh hu th l khi nim u tin ca tr nng chng ta, c hm cha trong bt c khi nim no, th cng c mt phn on ng nhin l u tin, v c gi thit bi mi phn on khc. Phn on u tin ny c pht biu nh sau: Khng th (mt vt) va c li va khng trong cng mt lc v theo cng mt phng din. Khi chng ta khng nh rng mt s vt ang trong mt cch thc ring bit, chng ta gi nh rng khng th no cng mt s vt va trong cch thc ny li va trong cch thc khc. Nu chng ta ni rng vic gip tha nhn l iu tt, chng ta bit rng l iu tt th khng ng ngha vi khng l iu tt. Xin c thm bi phn tch r hn v nguyn l bt-mu-thn ny trong phn cui sch.

b lm chuyn ng bi ci tay. Bi , tt yu phi ti mt vt lm chuyn ng u tin, khng b ng bi vt no khc. V vt lm chuyn ng u tin ny, ta gi l Thin Cha.

Con ng th hai i t bn tnh ca nguyn nhn tc thnh. Trong th gii cc vt kh gic, chng ta gp mt trt t cc nguyn nhn tc thnh. Khng c v dt khot khng th c mt trng hp m mt vt c bt gp lm nguyn nhn tc thnh cho chnh mnh; v vy n c trc chnh mnh; l vt bt-kh-hu. Nhng trong hng cc nguyn nhn tc thnh, khng c th i ti v cng, v ni cc nguyn nhn tc thnh k tip th t; nguyn nhn th nht l nguyn nhn ca cc nguyn nhn tc thnh trung gian, v nguyn nhn tc thnh trung gian l chuyn ng ca nguyn nhn tc thnh cui cng. Nguyn nhn trung gian c th nhiu hoc mt ci duy nht. Nhng th tiu nguyn nhn tc thnh, l th tiu hiu qu. Bi , nu khng c nguyn nhn tc thnh th nht gia cc nguyn nhn, th s khng c ci cui cng. Cng s khng c cc nguyn nhn tc thnh trung gian; nhng trong cc nguyn nhn tc thnh, khng th tip tc i cho ti v hn, v nh th l khng c nguyn nhn tc thnh th nht, th khng c hiu qu cui cng,cng khng c nguyn nhn tc thnh trung gian: hai kt lun ny sai bt. Cho nn tt yu phi tha nhn nguyn nhn tc thnh th nht v tc thnh th nht gi l Thin Cha.

Con ng th ba khi u t kh-hu-tnh v tt-hu-tnh v i nh th ny. Chng ta gp trong thin nhin nhng vt c th hin hu v khng hin hu. V chng n c sinh sn ra v h nt i; v do chng n c th hin hu v khng hin hu. Nhng chng

n khng c th hin hu lun mi, v ci g c th khng hin hu th ri c lc n khng hin hu. Bi , nu tt c mi s vt u c th khng hin hu, th c mt lc no , khng hin hu mt s vt no c. Vy gi nh gi nh ni y l s tht, c lc khng mt s vt no hin hu, bi ci g khng hin hu, ch c th bt u hin hu do mt s vt ang hin hu. Bi , c lc khng mt s vt no hin hu, th khng mt s vt c th bt u hin hu; v nh vy hin gi khng mt s vt no hin hu: y l s phi l."Cho nn, khng phi tt c mi vt u hon ton l kh hu; nhng phi hin hu mt vt m s hin hu ca vt ny l tt hu; nhng tt c mi tt-hu-th v tt-hu-tnh ca n b to nn hoc khng b to nn bi mt vt khc na. Nhng khng th i n v cng trong hng cc vt tt hu c tt-hu-tnh b cu to do vt khc, nh minh chng lin h vi cc nguyn nhn tc thnh. Cho nn chng ta khng th khng cng nhn s hin hu ca mt vt t c tt-yu-tnh ring ca mnh, v khng lnh nhn tt-yu-tnh ny t mt vt khc na, nhng phi hn l n sinh ra cho cc vt khc ci tt-yu-tnh ca chng n. V vt t c tt-yutnh ring ca mnh, c gi l Thin Cha.

Con ng th t i t cp bc trong cc vt. gia cc vt, c nhng vt hn km tt, tht, cao qu v nhng tnh cht tng t. Nhng s hn km c ch nh v cc vt khac nhau, v chng n, bng nhiu th cch khc nhau ging vi mt vt no cc , chng hn nh mt vt nng hn theo mc n gn hn vi vt nng nht. Cng vy c mt vt no tht nht, tt nht, cao qu nht,; v do c mt vt no hin hu nht i vi mi vt khc lm nguyn nhn cho s hin hu, cho thin tnh v cho mt s hon ho ca chng n, v nguyn nhn cc ph qut ny c gi l Thin Cha.

Con ng th nm i t s thng tr v tr. Chng ta thy cc vt khng c l tr, khng c s hiu bit nh cc vt thin nhin, hnh ng theo mc ch, v s tht ny tht l hin nhin do s hnh ng ca chng lun lun hoc hu nh lun lun theo mt th cch, t ti mc ch tt nht. Bi , rt r rng l chng n hon thnh mc ch ca chng, khng phi mt cch ngu nhin nhng mt cch c ch nh. Nhng bt c vt no khng c s hiu bit, khng th chuyn ng v mc ch, nu n khng c iu khin bi mt vt c s hiu bit v tr nng; nh mi tn c iu khin bi ngi bn cung. Bi , mt vt c tr nng no hin hu m nh vt c tr nng ny, tt c mi vt thin nhin c iu khin n mc ch ca chng n: vt c tr nng ny c gi l Thin Cha.

GII P:

1.

Thnh Augustino ni: V Thin Cha l s thin ti cao, Ngi khng mun cho php s c hin hu ni cc cng trnh ca Ngi; gi nh s ton nng v thin tnh ca Ngi khng phi l nh th n ni em li s lnh ngay t trong s d (Enchir.11). Vic ny thuc v thin tnh v hn ca Thin Cha, l Ngi c th cho php s d hin hu v to nn s lnh bi s d.

2.

Thin nhin hnh ng v mc ch nht nh, theo s iu khin ca tc nhn cao ng, bt c iu g c thin nhin thc hin, phi quy v Thin Cha, l nguyn nhn nht. Cng th, bt c iu g c thc hin do ch iu khin, phi qui v mt nguyn nhn cao ng no, khc vi l tr v ch nhn loi, v l tr v ch nhn loi thay i v sa st; m tt c mi vt c th thay i v c kh nng t h hng, th phi qui v nguyn nhn nht khng thay i v tt hu, nh trnh by.

PHI CHNG THIN CHA L MT VT TH?

VN NN:

Xem ra Thin Cha l mt vt th. 1.Vt th c ba kch thc. M kinh thnh ch nh cho Thin Cha ba kch thc, v c li ghi chp: Cha cao hn tri, anh ngn c chng? Su hn m ph, anh u nhn thu? Di hn lc a rng hn b (G 11,8). Bi , Thin Cha l vt th.

2. Tt c mi vt c hnh nh, l vt th, v hnh nh l phm cht ca lng. Nhng Thin Cha xem ra c hnh nh, v ghi chp:"Ta hy dng nn loi ngi theo hnh nh Ta"(St 1,26). M hnh nh c gi l nh tng, theo li ni: Cha Con hnh nh bn th Cha Cha (Dt 1.3). Vy, Thin Cha l vt th.

3. Ci g c nhng b phn hu hnh, l vt th. M Kinh thnh ch nh cho Thin Cha cc b phn hu hnh: mt Cha hng trng xem k cng chinh (Tv 32,16). Ngi c cnh tay nh Thin Cha

chng? (G 40,9). Tay hu Cha gi cao ln, tay hu Cha chin u oai phong (Tv 112,16). Bi , Thin Cha l vt th.

4. Thi v tri ch thuc v vt th. Nhng nhng ci g c tnh cch thi , v tr c ch nh cho Thin Cha trong Kinh thnh: Ti thy Cha ng trn oai hng (Is 4,1), v Thin Cha ng ra x on, trang nghim phn xt cc dn ( Is 3.13). Bi , Thin Cha l vt th.

5. Ch cc vt th hay cc vt hu hnh c coi l khi im hay ch im. Th m Kinh thnh ni Thin Cha c coi l ch im nh Thnh vnh 33,6: "Ai nhn ln Cha, s vui ti hn h"; tay Cha l hi vng dn t-ra-en, mi ngi b Cha u b nhc: Nhng ai la xa Cha u b ghi tn trn t rng chng b sui nc hng sng l Thin Cha (Hierony. 18,13). Bi , Thin Cha l vt th.

TRI LI:

ghi trong Phc m thnh Gioan: Thin Cha l tinh thn2 ( Ga 4,24).
y l ngi dch ly theo bn sch no chng ti khng r; sch Kinh Thnh ti Vit Nam dch : Thin Cha l thn kh. Thn kh hay tinh thn, thng mt vi tc gi cng hay dng qua li.
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TR LI:

Mt s thc tuyt i l Thin Cha khng phi mt vt th v c chng minh ba cch.

Th nht, v vt th khng chuyn ng, tr phi n b ng: l mt s kin hin nhin do chng c qui np. M minh chng Thin Cha l nht ng c, tc l ch ng u tin, m khng b ng. Nh th r rng l Thin Cha khng phi vt th.

Th n, v hu th nht, mt cch tt yu, phi l hin th v hon ton khng c tim-th-tnh, tc l mt hin th thun ty. V mc du vi mt vt th n i t tim-th-tnh n hin-th-tnh, tim-th-tnh c trc hin-th-tnh v thi gian; tuy nhin, ni mt cch tuyt i, hin-th-tnh c trc tim-th-tnh bi vt hin th. M chng minh Thin Cha l nht hu th (q.2,a.3). Cho nn tuyt i Thin Cha khng c tim-th-tnh, v chng hn nh mt lin-tc-hu c th b phn chia n v cng. Nh vy, Thin Cha khng phi vt th.

Th ba, Thin Cha l vt cao c nht trong mi vt, nh trnh by (q.2,a.3). M mt vt th khng phi vt cao c nht trong mi vt. V tt c mi vt hoc hu hn hoc v hn; mt vt hu hn

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cao ng hn vt v hn. Nhng vt c gi l hu hn, r rng khng phi v n l vt th ; nu tri li mi vt th u l vt hu hn. Bi , vic lm cho ha nn hu hn, l thuc vo mt vt no khc, nh thn th nhn loi c ha nn vt th hu hn, th cao ng hn vt th. Cho nn Thin Cha khng phi l vt th.

GII P:

1.

Nh chng ti ni trn, Kinh thnh t ra trc mt chng ta cc vt thing ling v thuc v Thin Cha qua cc hnh nh ca vt hu hnh. Bi , khi Kinh thnh ch nh cho Thin Cha ba kch thc qua s so snh vi lng hu hnh, th biu th lng nng lc ca Thin Cha; qua chiu su, Kinh thnh biu th nng lc ca Thin Cha thu bit mi s vt n khut; qua chiu cao biu th s siu-vit-tnh ca nng lc tuyt ho ca Thin Cha; qua chiu di, biu th s lu di mi mi ca s hin hu Thin Cha; qua chiu rng, biu th tnh yu ca Thin Cha dnh cho tt c mi ngi. Hoc l, nh Denys ni, chiu su ca Thin Cha ni ln bt-kh-t-tnh ca yu tnh Thin Cha; chiu di ca Thin Cha ni ln s pht xut nng lc ca Thin Cha thm nhp v xuyn qua tt c mi s vt; chiu rng ca Thin Cha ni ln s Thin Cha che y tt c mi s vt, v mi s vt u c Thin Cha che ch.

2.

Nhn loi c gi l hnh nh ca Thin Cha, khng phi v quan h vi thn xc, nhng v quan h vi cu t lm cho

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nhn loi u t hn cc th vt. Bi , khi ni: Ta hy dng nn loi ngi theo hnh nh Ta, th ni thm: h lm ch c bin, chim tri mun th vt trn t v mi cn trng sng ng trn a cu (St 1,26). M nhn loi u t vt ln trn tt c mi th vt bi l tr v tr nng ca nhn loi; bi , chnh do tr nng v l tr v hnh m nhn loi c gi l hnh nh Thin Cha.

3.

Cc b phn hu hnh c ch nh cho Thin Cha trong Kinh thnh, bi v cc hnh ng ca Thin Cha, v s ch nh nh th do mt s tng t no thi. Th d, hnh ng ca con mt l thy, v do , con mt c ch nh cho Cha, biu th nng lc ca Thin Cha thy bng tr tu, ch khng bng gic quan; v cng phi l lun nh vy i vi tt c cc b phn khc.

4.

Bt c ci g thuc v thi , v tr, th cng mt th cch c ch nh v Thin Cha ch v l do da trn mt s tng t no thi. Thin Cha c ni l ngi (ng), v bt-dch-tnh v s thng tri ca Thin Cha. Thin Cha c ni l ng, v quyn nng ca Thin Cha thng bt c s vt no chng li Thin Cha.

5.

Chng ta n gn Thin Cha, khng phi bng nhng bc i hu hnh, v Thin Cha khp ni; chng ta n gn Thin Cha bng tnh yu mn ca linh hn; v nh cc hnh ng ca chnh cc linh hn; chng ta n gn Thin Cha.

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Bi , n gn Thin Cha hoc rt lui biu th thun ty s yu mn thing ling tng t vi s di chuyn ni ch.

Khng th (mt vt) va c li va khng trong cng mt lc v theo cng mt phng din.

c thm: NGUYN L BT - MU - THUN

C mt s yu t s yu hoc nn tng ni tri thc con ngi, c dng lm c bn cho mi chn l khc. Cng nh hu th l khi nim u tin ca tr nng chng ta, c hm cha trong bt c khi nim no, th cng c mt phn on ng nhin l u tin, v c gi thit bi mi phn on khc. Phn on u tin ny c pht biu nh sau: Khng th (mt vt) va c li va khng trong cng mt lc v theo cng mt phng din. Khi chng ta khng nh rng mt s vt ang trong mt cch thc ring bit, chng ta gi nh rng khng th no cng mt s vt va trong cch thc ny li va trong cch thc khc. Nu chng ta ni rng vic gip tha nhn l iu tt, chng ta bit rng l iu tt th khng ng ngha vi khng l iu tt. V nguyn l c bn ny lin h n hu th - cho d n c dng trong mi lnh vc tri thc con ngi nn Siu hnh hc, vn l khoa hc v hu th xt nguyn n l th, c nhim v nghin cu v ni ln ngha y ca nguyn l . Khi nghin cu chn l ti thng ny, chng ta tm hiu mt trong nhng c trng hin nhin v nn tng nht ca hu th.

1. NGUYN L U TIN V HU TH

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Phn on u tin c gi l nguyn l bt mu - thun, v n din t iu kin c bn nht ca cc s vt, ngha l chng khng th t muthun vi chnh mnh (The first judgment is called the principle of noncontradiction because it expresses the most basic condition of things, namely, that they cannot be self-contradictory). Nguyn l ny da trn c s hu th, v din t s vng bn ca hu th cng nh chuyn n i nghch vi v th (non-being = non-ens). Chng ta bit n con ngi ny, ngn ni kia, con vt n, nhn bit mi th nh iu g hin hu, nh mt hu th. Tip n, chng ta i ti tng v s ph nh hu th, hoc l v th, c quan nim khng phi nh s h v thun ty, nhng nh mt v th tng i v gii hn. Chng hn, chng ta ghi nhn rng con ch ny l mt hu th, nhng n li khng phi l con ch khc. Nh vy, khi nhn bit nhng hu th c th, chng ta cng to nn khi nim ph nh u tin v th (non-being). Khi chng ta nm bt mt v th no ni cc s vt, vn ny sinh t s gii hn ca mi s vt, chng ta hiu rng mt hu th khng th va c li va khng trong cng mt lc v theo cng mt ngha. Nh vy, nguyn l bt-mu thun din t s bt tng thch trit gia hu th v v th, vn t nn tng trn s kin ny l vic hin hu lin quan n mt hon b c thc ni mi mt hu th, i nghch tuyt i vi chuyn thiu vng hon b . Chng ta ni trong cng mt lc, v chng hn, khng c g mu thun trong trng hp nhng chic l ca mt cy c mu xanh mt ma trong nm, v mu nu hoc trong ma khc. Chng ta cng ni thm trong cng mt ngha hay trong cng mt phng din, bi v khng h mu thun i vi mt con ngi rt thng tho mt s vn , nhng li dt nt v nhng vn khc. Hin nhin l nguyn l trn c mt tm quan trng nn tng, khng ch trong tri thc t pht v khoa hc, nhng cn trong lnh vc hot ng ca con ngi, v n l iu kin u tin ca chn l trong bt c phn on no.

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2. NHNG CCH DIN T NGUYN L BT-MU- THUN Trc ht, nguyn l u tin l mt phn on lin quan n thc ti. Do , nhng li din t su xa hn v nguyn l ny l nhng li din t c bn cht siu hnh, ngha l nhng din t trc tip lin quan n esse ca cc s vt. V d: mt vt khng th cng lc va c li va khng1, v khng th no mt vt hin hu v ng lc li khng hin hu2. Chng ta khng ch ni rng iu t mu thun th khng th tng tng c, v nguyn l bt-mu-thun l qui lut ti thng ca thc ti, ch khng ch l mt nh l hay nh ca tr tu dng gii thch thc ti. Nh vy, iu m chng ta thc s khng nh vi nguyn l ny chnh l: hu th th khng t mu thun vi chnh mnh. Tuy nhin, v tr nng ca chng ta c gng nhn bit thc ti nh n l, nn nguyn l u tin v hu th, theo mt cch thc phi sinh, cng l mt qui lut ca t tng: n cng l qui lut u tin ca lun l hc3. Do , chng ta cng c th tm thy nhng cng thc khc ca nguyn l u tin mang bn cht lun l, v lin h nhiu hn n tri thc ca ta v hu th. V d: chng ta khng th va khng nh va ph nh mt iu g v cng mt ch th trong cng mt lc v theo cng mt ngha, hoc nhng mnh mu thun v cng mt ch th th khng th ng lc l xc thc. Tr tu l ch th cho nguyn l bt mu thun. N khng th nhn bit hu th nh t mu thun, chnh xc l v hu th khng th t mu thun. D nhin, chng ta c th t mu thun vi chnh mnh khi suy ngh hoc ni nng, nhng iu ny ch xy ra khi chng ta lc xa thc ti do s khim khuyt trong vic suy lun. Khi mt ai ch cho ta thy ta mc phi sai st no, ta c khuynh hng sa li cho ng. Du sao, mc d chng ta c th qu quyt mt iu g mu thun, th n khng th no hiu c (it cannot possibly be understood). 3. TRI THC QUI NP V NGUYN L U TIN

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Mt cch t nhin v t pht, nguyn l bt mu- thun c mi ngi nhn bit qua kinh nghim. N l per se notum omnibus (t thn hin minh cho mi ngi). D nhin, n khng phi l mt phn on bm sinh, c tr tu chim hu trc khi bt u c tri thc thc s, hay l mt loi khung sn tr tu c np sn hiu c thc ti. din t c phn on ny, trc ht chng ta phi bit c nhng hn t ca n (hu th v v th). Chng l nhng khi nim m chng ta ch nm bt khi tr nng, thng qua nhng gic quan, hiu c thc ti bn ngoi v nhn bit nhiu hu th khc bit; v d, t giy ny, mt hu th phn bit khi ci my ch kia, phn bit khi khng giy (v th). V nhng iu trn l hai khi nim u tin m chng ta thnh lp, mi ngi nht nh phi nhn bit ngay qui lut bt mu-thun . D nhin, vo lc khi s tri thc, nguyn l ny khng c din t trong cng thc ph qut ca n khng th no mt s vt va c li va khng. Tuy nhin, n c nhn bit vi tm mc y , v ai ny u hnh ng ph hp vi n. Chng hn, ngay c mt a tr cng bit r rng n th chng ging vi khng n, v n c x ph hp vi tri thc . 4. TNH HIN MINH CA NGUYN L NY V LI BO V N NH LUN CHNG I NHN V l phn on u tin, nguyn l ny khng th c chng minh nh nhng chn l khc i trc n. Tuy nhin, chuyn khng th chng minh n, u phi l mt du hiu bt ton; ng hn, chng ta cn ni rng l mt du hiu ca s hon b. Khi mt chn l t mnh hin minh, th khng cn v cng khng th chng minh n. Ch c iu g khng trc tip hin minh mi i bng chng. Bn cnh , nu mi qu quyt u cn c chng minh nh n nhng khng nh khc, hn chng ta s chng bao gi t c mt s chn l t mnh hin minh. Nh vy th tri thc con ngi s khng c c s ti hu. Bo v nguyn l u tin chng li nhng ai ph nhn n

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Mc d chn l ca nguyn l bt mu-thun khng th c chng minh bng cch dng n nhng chn l hin minh khc (m thc ra lm g c th no nh vy), n vn c th c chng minh cch gin tip qua vic t r rng bt c ai ph nhn n u khng c g chc chn c. Tt nhin, mt lun chng kiu l hu dng, nhng n khng phi l mt bng chng cht ngha. Ngoi ra, s chc chn hoc gi tr tuyt i ca nguyn l bt mu-thun khng da trn nhng l chng gin tip nh th, nhng da trn tri gic t pht ca chng ta v hu th. Tuy nhin, ta c th s lc mt vi lun chng loi , nh c ghi trong sch Siu hnh hc ca Aristotle: a) Mun ph nhn nguyn l ny, ngi ta phi chi b mi ngha ca ngn ng. Nu hn t ngi li cng y nh l khngphi ngi, th qu thc n chng cn ngha g c. T no cng m ch mi s v, do , li cng chng ni ln bt c iu g. Nh vy, mi thng tin v hiu bit gia nhng con ngi l khng kh thi. Do , bt c khi no c ai ni ln mt t, th ngi cng bit n nguyn l bt - mu-thun, v chc chn anh ta mun t phi c mt ngha mt iu no xc nh v phn bit vi iu i nghch vi n. Bng khng, ngi khng th ni nng r rng c (Cf. Metaphysic, IV, ch. 4). b) Phc ha nhng hiu qu ti hu t lun chng ad hominem ni trn, Aristotle qu quyt rng h ai chi b nguyn l u tin ny u c x nh loi thc vt, v ngay c nhng con vt cng di chuyn t mt mc tiu m chng a chung hn nhng th khc, chng hn khi chng i kim mi (cf. Ibidem). c) Ngoi ra, ph nhn nguyn l ny cng c ngha l chp nhn n, v khi bc b n, mt ngi cng nhn bit rng khng nh v ph nh th khng cng ngha. Nu mt ngi ch trng rng nguyn l bt - mu-thun l sai (false), th anh ta tha nhn rng ng (true) v sai l khng ng ngha (the same), do cng chp nhn ng ci nguyn l m anh ta mun kh tr (Cf. Metaphysics, XI, ch.5).

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Thuyt tng i nh mt kt qu ca vic ph nh nguyn l u tin D l hin minh, nguyn l bt mu-thun trn thc t vn b ph nhn bi nhiu trng phi t tng thi thng c (Heraclitus, Phi Ngy Bin, Phi Hoi Nghi) v, trong mt hnh thc trit v hu nhiu hn na ni thi i mi, bi mt s hnh thc trit hc bin chng (Marxism)4 v thuyt tng i duy s (historicist ralativism). Nhng hc thuyt trn gin lc thc ti vo nguyn vic thay i hoc bin dch: khng c iu g hin hu, mi s u thay i; khng c khc bit hoc i nghch gia hu th v v th. Lm nh vy, nhng hc thuyt trn ph nhn bn cht vng bn ca s vt, v ph nhn tnh vng bn ca vic hin hu cng vi nhng c tnh ca n. Do vy, khng c im chc chn no qui chiu, v khng c nguyn l t chn l tuyt i. H ch trng rng nhng hc thuyt i nghch nhau th c gi tr ngang nhau: mt pht biu th khng xc thc hn iu i nghch vi n. V khng th no t nn tng mi s trn h v (nothing), nn mt khi ph nhn hu th, th chnh con ngi c coi nh nn tng duy nht cho chn l5. Nn tng cn ct ca thc ti cng chnh l vic qui chiu n v mi c nhn: hin hu ca s vt c gin lc vo vic chng hinhu-cho-ti, gin lc vo li s dng c th ca mi c nhn. Chng hn, nhng thc ti nh hn nhn v x hi khng c bn cht ring, cng chng c nhng qui lut iu hnh chng; ng hn, chng l thuc vo ngha m con ngi t gn cho chng. Nh vy, mi vic ph nhn nguyn l bt mu- thun qua dng lch s u c nh du bng mt ch thuyt tng i ch quan, tn cng i sng con ngi trn nhng lnh vc l thuyt v thc hnh. Tm quan trng ca nguyn l u tin s sng t hn trong lnh vc i sng lun l, v vic ph nhn nguyn l u tin ny cng ph hy lun s phn bit gia iu thin v iu c. Nh vy, nguyn l u tin trong lnh vc hnh ng ca con ngi lm lnh v lnh d b loi b. ng lc v chun mc c x ca con ngi s ch cn l ti mun lm iu ny, m khng l g n nhng chun mc lun l khch quan.

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5. VAI TR CA NGUYN L U TIN TRONG SIU HNH HC V l qui lut ti thng v hu th, nguyn l bt mu-thun nm vai tr ch o trong ton b tri thc ca con ngi, c l thuyt ln thc hnh, bi l n dn dt chng ta trnh nhng khim khuyt trong tri thc v hot ng ca ta. Chng hn, Thin Cha s t mu thun vi chnh mnh, nu nh Ngi l ng v bin m li phi chu s bin ha qua dng lch s (nh Hegel ch trng); do , chng ta phi bc gi thuyt trn. Cng vy, tht l v l khi coi v tr nh vt cht t sinh (nh Marx ch trng), v s l chuyn mu thun nu c iu g li l cn nguyn ca chnh mnh. Nguyn l u tin kch thch tri thc siu hnh theo mt hng c bit, v n din t c im c bn ca hu th. Nguyn l bt mu-thun gip chng ta khm ph cu trc bn trong ca cc hu th cng nh cn nguyn ca chng. V d, khi chng ta phn tch bn cht thing ling ca nhng hnh vi nhn linh trong vic hiu bit v c mun, chng ta cm thy cn phi kt lun rng nguyn l cho nhng hnh vi (linh hn con ngi) cng phi l thing ling, v s l chuyn v l khi mt ch th vt cht li pht sinh nhng hnh vi thing ling. Cng vy, trong thn hc t nhin, hin hu gii hn ca mi s vt trong v tr s dn chng ta n kt lun rng c Thin Cha, v s l chuyn mu thun nu nh v tr c c mi c tnh ca nhng g c to nn m li khng c mt cn nguyn no. Chuyn hin hu (act of being) ca cc s vt l iu buc tr nng chng ta phi t n mt tri thc rng ln v su sc hn v thc ti m khng ri vo nhng mu thun. Tr nng chng ta nm bt phn cn li ca tri thc nh vo nguyn l bt mu-thun. V cng nh mi khi nim khc c bao hm trong khi nim ens, nhng li khng c nm bt t khi nim qua ng li phn tch hoc din dch, th cng vy, nguyn l u tin cng tim tng (implied) ni mi phn on, nhng phn cn li ca tri thc con ngi li khng th c din dch t . Ni cch cht ch, chng ta i n tri thc, khng phi l khi i t nguyn l bt mu-thun, nhng ng hn l nh din tin ph hp vi nguyn l . Nu ch nh nguyn phn on u tin ny, m khng bit c nhng cch thc hin hu khc do kinh nghim

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em li cho ta, th chng ta khng th tin b trong tri thc. Do , nguyn l bt mu-thun hu nh lun lun c dng cch mc nhin v gin tip, hu loi b nhng g l hm h, v dn tr tu chng ta n nhng gii php ng n. Mc d vai tr ca nguyn l u tin ch c hiu dn dn trong qu trnh nghin cu, nhng ta cng c th hiu i cht khi nhn thy rng cc trit gia tin b trong tri thc ca mnh ra sao, bi l h c dn dt bi nhu cu phng bt c mu thun no. Heraclitus, ngi tin phong ca ch thuyt tng i, ch trng rng thc ti l thun ty thay i hay bin dch, do ng ta ph nhn nguyn l bt mu-thun. i vi ng, khng g hin hu: mi s u thay i. V phn mnh, Parmenides mun ti lp chn l v hu th, i lp li vic gii th thc ti m Heraclitus ch trng. ng c mt pht biu thi danh: hu th th hin hu, cn v th th khng hin hu. Tuy nhin, v hiu nguyn l ny trong mt cung cch cng ngc, khng uyn chuyn, ng ph nhn bt c v th no, k c v th tng i. Do , ng ni rng mi hn ch, tng bi hoc bin i u l iu khng th. ng kt lun rng thc ti l mt hu th n l, ng b, bt bin. Plato khai trin mt nn Siu hnh hc tha nhn thc ti khuyt php (privation) v khng nh rng th gii kh gic thng d vo th gii Tng. Do , ng phi bao hm v tr gii hn trong phm vi hu th. Tuy nhin, chnh Aristotle mi l ngi nhn mnh n ngha thc t ca v th tng i c tm thy ni cc s vt, khi ng khm ph mt nguyn l hn ch c tht, c th l tim nng (potency). Do , ng nh thc nguyn l bt muthun mt cch sc so hn : mt vt khng th va c li va khng trong cng mt lc v theo cng mt ngha (Something cannot be and not be at the same time and in the same sense). 6. NHNG NGUYN L S YU KHC T C S TRN NGUYN L BT MU-THUN

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Gi y chng ta xt n nhng nguyn l s yu khc c lin h cht ch vi nguyn l u tin. a) Nguyn l kh tam (nguyn l loi tr ci th ba = principle of excluded middle). Nguyn l ny pht biu rng khng c trung gian gia hu th v v th, hoc khng c trung gian gia khng nh v ph nh. Phn on ny c ngha rng mt s vt th c hoc khng c, ch khng cn kiu no khc na, v do n cng gin lc vo nguyn l bt mu-thun. Khng th c iu g trung gian, bi l khng th va c li va khng trong cng mt lc. Nguyn l ny thng c s dng trong l lun, theo cng thc, mi mnh th nht thit phi l thc hay l gi. Mc d hin hu trong tim nng (being in potency) c th c coi nh im trung gian gia hu th v v th, nhng thc ra l n nm gia hin hu trong hin th (being in act) v khng hin hu trong hin th (not being in act) hoc tuyt i v th (absolute non- being). Nguyn l ny c gi tr i vi tim nng: khng g c th va trong hin th va trong tim nng cng mt lc, v theo cng mt ngha; khng c trung gian gia hin hu trong tim nng v khng hin hu trong tim nng. b) Nguyn l ng nht. Nguyn l ny pht biu rng hu th l hu th (being is being), hoc bt c iu g c, cng chnh l n (whatever is, is what it is), hoc hu th th hin hu, cn v th th khng hin hu (being is, and non-being is not). Mc d Aristotle cng nh thnh Thomas u khng ni n nguyn l ng nht nh mt nguyn l s yu, nhiu tc gi Tn-Kinh vin nu ln iu , v hu nh lun gin lc n vo nguyn l bt mu-thun. Nhiu khi, nhng nguyn l khc cng c hm cha trong cc nguyn l nn tng ni trn. V d, nguyn l nhn qu (principle of causality) (mi hiu qu u c cn nguyn hay nhng g bt u hin hu th phi c to thnh) v nguyn l cu cnh (principle of finality) (mi tc nhn u hot ng v mt mc tiu). Ni cht ch, nhng nguyn l trn khng phi l nhng nguyn l u tin, v chng lin h n nhng khi nim hn hp hn, v i sau nhng khi nim ens v non-ens (c bit nhng khi

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nim v cn nguyn, hiu qu, v mc ch). Do , chng gi thit nguyn l bt mu-thun, v chng c mt phm vi hn hp hn.

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SCH C THM ARISTOTLE, Metaphysica, IV, ch. 3-8; XI, 4-6; SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS, In Metaph., IV lect. 5-17; XI, 4-6; S.th., I-II, q.94, a.2. GARRIGOU-LAGRANGE, Le sens commun, la philosophie de ltre et les formules dogmatiques, Beauchesne, Paris 1909. MANSER, La esencia del tomismo, C.S.I.C. Madrid 1953. L. ELDERS, Le premier principe de la vie intellective, in <<Revue Thomiste>> 62 (1962), pp. 571-586. P.C.COURTES, Cohrence de ltre et Premier Principe selon Saint Thomas dAquin, in <<Revue Thomiste>>, 70 (1970), pp. 387-423.

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