Back to Aquinas Arguments

Metaphysics

Participation metaphysics

Creatures possess being, goodness, truth, and perfection by participation, while God possesses them essentially.

Guiding question

How can creatures be really good and existent without being the source of goodness and existence?

Why it matters

Participation explains creaturely reality and dependence without collapsing creation into God.

The argumentative movement

  1. 1Finite beings have perfections in limited ways.
  2. 2Limited possession points to reception rather than absolute identity with the perfection.
  3. 3The source of participated perfections possesses them essentially and without limit.