Kt6

THE ANTITHESIS

The ideas of St. Thomas on being and essence have also been subject to critique. Here's an
antithesis that challenges some aspects of Aquinas's views:

Primacy of Essence over Existence

Aquinas asserted that essence (what a thing is) precedes existence (that a thing exists). This
means that a thing's essence defines what it is before it comes into existence. However, this
perspective can be criticized for not adequately accounting for the contingent nature of existence.
In this view, there might be potential entities with well-defined essences that never come into
being, rendering the concept of essence as incomplete without existence.

Limitations of Essentialism

Aquinas's essentialism, which posits that things have a fixed and unchanging essence, can be
criticized for not accounting for evolution, change, and development over time. It may struggle
to explain how entities evolve or transform while still maintaining a consistent essence.

Inadequate Treatment of Non-Substantial Beings

Aquinas's discussions on being and essence primarily focused on substantial beings (entities
that exist in their own right). This approach might not adequately address non-substantial entities
or abstract concepts, which pose different ontological challenges.

CONCLUSION

In his book on being and essence, Thomas Aquinas outlined the differences between being and
essence and how they relate to one another. Although existence and essence are interdependent
in created entities, Aquinas contends that they are two distinct concepts. Essence is what it
means to be a specific kind of object, and that is what defines essence, whereas being is the act
of existence itself. For instance, humanity is at the core of every human being. Although not all
humans are present at the same moment, they all share the same essence.

The contrast Aquinas makes between being and essence is crucial because it enables him to
explain a variety of aspects of the world, including the likelihood of change and the existence of
God.

Regarding Aquinas' distinction between being and essence, we can understand the possibility of
change since beings can change their qualities without changing their essence. For instance, a
substance is modified when it takes on a new shape while retaining its previous form. This is
feasible because in created substances, being and essence are separate.

The distinction made by Aquinas between being and essence is crucial for comprehending the
character of God. Only God has an existence that is equal to His essence. This suggests that God
simply is; He does not need to be made to exist. God is absolute reality, which explains why. He
is incapable of developing or changing. God does not thus need to be made to exist for, He
simply is.