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State of the question. The second objection states the
difficulty of the Manichaeans: created things often are
opposed to each other as if some proceeded from a good
principle and some from an evil principle.
Reply. The reply is in the affirmative and of faith
according to the words of St. Paul: "Yet to us there
is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things,
and we unto Him."[935]
Proof from reason. It is necessary that the governance
of the world ordered to the supreme good should be the
best. But the best governance is that which is through
one being. Why? Because governance is the direction of
those who are governed to a good, which supposes unity as
against dissolution. The cause of unity, however, is
one "per se", since several beings cannot agree
unless they are united in some way. Therefore the
governance of the world, since it is the best, is by one
governor.[936]
This is a strict demonstration and it is found to be true
even in human affairs. And this best kind of government
by one supposes a wise and good governor, capable of
leading his subjects to unity and to their end.[937]
Such governance is necessary particularly when the end to
be attained is arduous and involves a complexity of
problems that are difficult of solution, and when the
multitude is incapable of attaining its end, as often
happens in great masses of people where it is difficult to
establish order. If, however, those who are ruled are
close to perfection, there is less need of a strong rule,
for here the words are verified, "these. . . are a law
to themselves, who show the work of the law written in
their hearts."[938] Thus an imperfect rule suffices
for perfect subjects, but a perfect rule is needed for the
imperfect and for the multitude, which in itself remains
imperfect. We read in the Scripture: "Where there is
no governor, the people shall fall; but there is safety
where there is much counsel."[939] Therefore a king
should have about him the wisest counselors, reserving the
final judgment to himself. Hence we see that the same
principles by which the universe is ruled are applied,
with some modifications, to human society.
Reply to second objection. In reply to the objection of
the Manichaeans, St. Thomas says: "Contrary
things, although they are in disagreement with regard to
proximate ends, nevertheless agree inasmuch as they are
coordinated in the one order of the universe and ordered to
the final end." That is, created things frequently are
at variance with one another with regard to proximate
ends, but this does not prove the existence of some evil
principle, for, as St. Augustine says: "God, who
is the highest good, would in no way allow anything evil
in His works unless He were so omnipotent and so good
that He could make good things even from
evil."[940]
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