Examining Thomas Aquinas's Theory of "Existence as Act" and ‎its Relationship with "Essence"‎

Document Type : The Quarterly Jornal

Authors

1 M.A. in Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of Tabriz, ‎‎Tabriz, Iran (Corresponding Author).‎

2 ‎. Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Wisdom, Faculty of ‎Theology, ‎Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran.‎

Abstract

This article uses a descriptive-analytical approach to explore Thomas Aquinas's scattered writings on existence and its relationship with essence. We'll examine this relationship across three key aspects: composition, distinction, and superaddition. Throughout medieval philosophy, there were many debates about how existence relates to essence. For Aquinas, existence holds a special significance. He saw existence as the actuality of all actualities and the perfection of all perfections. This is why he used the term "existential act" (actus essendi) to highlight the fundamental role of existence in his philosophical system. Influenced by predecessors like Avicenna, Aquinas believed that all created beings are composites of essence and existence, in addition to other types of compositions. This isn't merely a mental construct; it's a composition of two components that are integral to the metaphysical structure of an actual being. Beyond composition, Aquinas offered numerous arguments to prove the metaphysical distinction between existence and essence. However, he simultaneously rejected the idea that existence is merely superadded to essence. The central question of this article is to differentiate between these three aspects—composition, distinction, and superaddition—and to understand how Aquinas affirmed the composition and distinction of existence and essence while rejecting the superaddition of existence to essence in his philosophy

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References

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