Good Morning!

Happy Wednesday, everybody.

Today, we’re going to dive into how most things don’t explain their own existence, through Thomas Aquinas. Putting it to use, we’re going to check our assumptions about contingency. Wrapping it up, we’re going to pull a short line from Aquinas’ On Being and Essence.

Let’s get into it. Thought Breakfast is served!

We’re surrounded by things. That makes existence feel obvious. The deeper question isn’t what exists; it’s why anything exists at all. “Nothing” is not a something waiting to be fulfilled. It’s simply the absence of being.

Aquinas observes that most things don’t explain their own existence. They come into being, change, depend on something, and pass away. Their existence is received, and in no way guaranteed.

Here comes the distinction between essence and existence. Essence is WHAT a thing is (its definition or nature). Existence is THAT a thing is (the fact that it is at all). You can know what something is without knowing whether or not it exists. For instance, a unicorn has essence (you know what a unicorn is), but not existence (it doesn’t really exist). Therefore, essence alone can’t explain existence.

Now if a thing’s existence is not necessary, it depends on something else. Aquinas calls these things “contingent beings.” But a world made only of contingent beings still wouldn’t explain why there is anything.

Aquinas asks whether there must be something whose essence simply is existence. It wouldn’t be a thing among things, but a subsistent being. This is metaphysics at its most bold and daring. It would be existence explaining existence.

So if existence is accidental, then reality is ultimately indifferent (hello, Nietzsche?). If existence is grounded, then reality is intelligible and meaningful. Aquinas doesn’t begin with comfort in existence or morality for meaning. He simply begins with being.

At three moments today (waking up, midday, and before bed) pause and ask:

Then ask:

There’s no correct answer. Just notice what you already assume.

“Everything whose existence is distinct from its essence must receive existence from another.” — Thomas Aquinas, On Being and Essence

Aquinas is being the metaphysical version of Isaac Newton here. Rather than establishing the laws of motion, he’s recognizing and establishing the laws of existence.

Although Thomas Aquinas was a famous Catholic philosopher, there is not much mention of theology in his metaphysics. The conclusion of his metaphysics does point to the existence of God (or something very close). In the theological community, there’s a point where reason exhausts itself and becomes faith. This is that point in Thomism. Going back far enough, something has to exist without contingency, and that thing’s essence would be existence itself.

Munch on that for today. It’s interesting how sometimes theology can take you by the hand once reason reaches its limit. That’s why Aquinas insinuates that theology is what philosophy becomes when it’s successful. Have a great day, and come back tomorrow for another steaming hot plate of Thought Breakfast!

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Remember to stay mindful, smell the flowers, and take it easy.

Chef Ricky - Thought Breakfast

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