Kt5

Essences of Substances in Relation to Logical Intentions

Essence can be found in three ways: in God, created intellectual substances, and in sensible
substances. God is existence only, but he is distinct from every other existence by its purity
itself. He has all perfections of all kinds and is perfect absolutely speaking. In created intellectual
substances, existence is other than essence, and their existence is finite and delimited to the
capacity of the receiving nature.

Intelligences are infinite from below and finite from above, but their nature or quiddity is
subsistent. They can be sorted into genera, species, and differences, but their proper differences
are hidden from us. Genus and difference cannot be taken in the same way in sensible substances
and sensible substances. In immaterial substances, the difference is taken from the whole
quiddity, but their genus is taken from their immateriality. However, these differences do not
have to be accidental, as they correspond to greater or lesser perfection, which does not diversify
species. The diverse grades of perfection among the forms or natures themselves do diversify the
species, as nature proceeds stepwise from plants to animals.

Intellectual substances, composed of matter and form, do not need to be classified based on two
real differences. They are finite, exist from above and below, and have logical intentions.

The Essences of Accidents

Essence is found in accidents, which have an incomplete definition as they cannot be defined
without their subject. Accidents have an accidental act of existence when they come to the
subject, which is not a complete essence. The supervening accident does not cause the act of
existence in which the thing subsists, but it causes a secondary act of existence. Accidents stem
from matter and form, with some primarily stemming from form and others from matter. Some
accidents stem from specific forms, like the masculine and feminine gender in animals, while
others stem from generic forms, like the skin color of a black man. Accidents stem from the
essential principles of the genus or species, and can be found in all individuals that share the
nature of genus or species. Accidents can also be caused by external principles, such as motion,
which are separable from the essence of the thing.
Accidents differ from substances in terms of genus, species, and difference. In substances,
concrete names signify the composite, while abstract names signify the species and genera.
Accidents' genus is derived from their mode of existence, which is predicated in different senses.
Differences are based on the diversity of principles causing them. In abstract forms, the subject is
included as the genus, while in concrete forms, the subject is included. The essence and existence
are found in all substances, except for the First Principle, which is infinitely simple, and the
notion of genus or species does not apply.