Summary
In a tribute to Saint Thomas Aquinas, this article highlights his significant contribution to metaphysics through his doctrine of the Act of Being. Composed when he was about thirty years old and preparing for his future professorship at the University of Paris in 1256, Thomas’s work “De ente et essentia” explores the difference between essence and existence. The article emphasizes that Thomas’s philosophical thesis is particularly compelling as it provides a rational basis for believing in God’s existence and His sustaining power over creation, beyond empirical proof. This principle underscores that all paths to knowledge lead back to God, including theological inquiry. The doctrine has had a lasting impact on Catholic thought, influencing generations of theologians and philosophers who have found comfort and insight in Thomas’s exploration of the metaphysical differences between beings and their acts of being.
Key Topics
St Francis Assisi, St Thomas Aquinas, Thomism
