Zurueck zu den Argumenten des Thomas

Metaphysics

Essence and existence

In creatures, what a thing is and that it exists are distinct; in God they are identical.

Leitfrage

What explains that this kind of thing is actual at all?

Warum es wichtig ist

The distinction makes creaturely dependence more precise and prepares Aquinas's accounts of creation and participation.

Der argumentative Gang

  1. 1A definition can state what a creature is without making the creature exist.
  2. 2Therefore essence does not contain existence in creatures as identical with itself.
  3. 3Created beings receive existence, while God alone is subsistent being itself.