Prime Matter Substantial form

Substance(a matter/form unity)

Quantity

Quality

Relation

Where

WhenActivity

passivityposture

Habit or state

The whole thing is in potentiality to existenceThe whole thing must be rendered actually

Existent by the Act of Existing (Esse)

Quantity

Quality

Relation

Where

WhenActivity

passivityposture

Habit or state

The whole thing is in potentiality to existenceThe whole thing must be rendered actually

Existent by the Act of Existing (Esse)

Quantity

Quality

Relation

Where

WhenActivity

passivityposture

Habit or state

The Act of Existing

SubstanceQuantityQualityRelation

WhenWherePostureAction

PassivityHabit/State

EsseThe act of existing

Quod Est“What is”Or Essence

A Being is a composite of Essence and Existence

Act of Existing

Nothing moves itself from potentiality to actuality except by something already in actuality

Nothing brings itself into existence

For a thing to bring itself into existence, it would have to exist before it exists, which is absurd.

So, how does a being receive “existence”, or the act of existing?

Essence

Esse

Perhaps an already existing being, whose essence is distinct from its existence?

Impossible

Why?????????

Nature orEssence

A thing acts according to the powers of its nature or essence

Plants cannot do more than they are able according to the powers of their nature.

i.e., plants cannot sense, or think, or run. They can grow, reproduce, and nourish themselves.

Can you and I create anything?

Absolutely NOTWhy Not?

Because to create is to bring something into existence from nothing.

We can only produce, not create. To produce is to bring something into existence from already existing material. I.e., a desk from already existing wood.

Essence or nature

Esse

Any being whose essence is distinct from its existence cannot create, in the sense of bringing something into being from nothing. They can only produce.

So how can we account for the existence of beings?

Like produces like. Like begets like.

Oak TreeSnake

Elephant

oak treesnake

Elephant

Who creates? Who or what imparts the Act of Existing?

What is the Agent Cause of the Act of Existing? Esse?

We know that like begets like, that is, a thing begets what is of the same nature.

We also know that existence is outside of our nature or essence.

That is why imparting existence (esse) is outside of our power, or not within our power. We cannot bring something into being from nothing.

Hence, there must be a being whose essence is identical to its existence.

There must be a being whose essence is to exist.

This being’s essence is to exist. And so, since like begets like, this being begets beings. This being alone creates.

Essence = ExistenceCannot not exist/necessarily exists/always existed

Does not have a received existenceIs His own Existence

Ipsum Esse SubsistensGod

IPSUM ESSE SUBSISTENS

esse

IPSUM ESSE SUBSISTENS

Beings