Jack Jaco AB – Philosophy 3 November 16, 2022

Jirold Lucmayan AB – Philosophy 3

Instructor: Fr. Eric G. Cantones
Metaphysics: Part II- The Transcendentals

This synthesis paper aims to discuss everything what is been reported from the second
part of the book which is The Transcendentals. So what is this transcendental all about?
Transcendental is/are properties acquired every being, it’s unity, truth, goodness, beauty.
Through of this we can go back to the source of perfect truth, perfect good and perfect beauty
which is God Himself as the perfect BEING, for His essence is Himself.
Everything that we can perceive through our intellect is a being, or in other words
everything that is is a being, and this is what common to all things that they “are”. But all of this
being that exists divided according to what modes of being they are, or what we called
categories. This is the first way of grasping the knowledge of a being. While the second one is
grasping the knowledge of aspects belonging to “being” as being. This simply explains that a
being possesses the unity of its matter and form, potency and act, essence and its existence and
this makes up a being as a being, and if there is unity, a being exists, and if there is no unity, a
thing ceases to exist. But accordingly, especially Kant explains that a being is already there
present or what we call a priori, it is already or innate to every being, if we saw a man, were not
dissecting the man of what makes him a man, but it is already there, present in every being. So,
the man transcends to its being as being.
Properties that endowed or present in every being is an aspect of every existing being,
this Unity, truth, goodness and beauty are all transcendent to its beingness, and this is the act of
being which is the being. What is this act of being present in every being is its being itself. The
existence of a being has composed of its potentiality and actuality, with these a being exists. And
it is also present in all transcendental being, which are mentioned above. But how could be these
transcendatals helps us or adds to our knowledge? It is for us to seek and find the perfect One
whom we are identical to our being as being. That’s why, the book uses analogy of explaining
the transcendentals, first, we acknowledge everything because one, it exist. Second, we are able
to grasp it because of its potency and act. We see things as Truth because we see it, we see things
good because it gives us desire, and we see thing beauty because it is pleasing to our eyes and to
all our senses. But where these came from, therefore we conclude that there is someone who is
the source of everything that exist, and that is God Himself. We are transcendent being that
transcends first of our own existence, we live our purpose in life according to our mode of
existence.
But how about angels, are they transcendent being since they are forms only and don’t
have matter? Yes, because they possess potency, they are still given the purpose to exist.
Although angels is above or higher level compared to the man, it does not mean that they possess
the perfect truth, goodness, beauty, but they acquired fullness that pertains according to their
modes of beings.
All these transcendental becomes perfect when it shows its existence of its potency and
act, if a man could only be satisfies by what is given, maybe there is no sinners now. The sin of
the perfection of beauty and goodness is when we privatize it, we did not act according to our
potential. Even, the rocks transcends its becoming a rock, we recognize it, meaning our
intentionality to know, is conforming our intellect that it is true, it is a rock, then it is good
because it is true that gives us desire to know what is this being that is. When there is truth and
goodness in every being, we are pleased because of its being a rock. Same as Man, if we did not
act according to our potentiality or purpose it seems that we do not exist at all. And if only man
would not privatize its goodness and beauty there is no sin, but in contrast were used to it. That’s
why we are identical to God who is the Perfect, which of the existence and essence, potency and
act, comes from Him, He is the source of everything. Therefore when can say that if man
transcends to become a Man, we are also transcending to the Divine, One, Truth, Goodness,
Beauty.