Form, essence and matter in Aquinas’ early work De ente et essentia. Notes to the metaphysical foundation of Aquinas’ psychology

Authors

  • Petr Slováček Silesian University in Opava

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15633/lie.1537

Keywords:

Matter, form, esse/essentia distinction, physics, metaphysics, Thomas Aquinas, Avicenna, Aristotle, soul, human being

Abstract

The article analyzes the role of matter (materia prima) in the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, from both the systematic and historical-philosophical aspect. It shows that Arab tradition (Avicenna and Averroes) and its interpreters from the first half of the 13ᵗʰ century played an important and very complex role in his reception of philosophical tools derived from Aristotle. The article also presents the process by which Aquinas was able to unite hylomorphism with the metaphysical theory of real distinction esse/essentia, which paved the way for a non-dualistic conception of man.

Author Biography

  • Petr Slováček, Silesian University in Opava
    Born in 1981, studied philosophy and Polish philology at Palacký University in Olomouc, where he gained a doctoral degree in philosophy, under the supervision of Prof. Ivan Blecha and Dr. Jozef Matula. The subject of his research interest is metaphysics, philosophical anthropology and the psychology of Thomas Aquinas and, more recently, also German political philosophy and theology of the 20ᵗʰ century. He currently works as an assistant professor at the Silesian University in Opava, where he lectures in philosophy and political philosophy. Petr Slováček is the author of numerous expert texts, the most important of which are: Philosophical foundation of the Thomas Aquinas´ psychology, The levels of Thomas Aquinas´ philosophical psychology, Corporeal form and the human soul in the Thomas Aquinas´ work, God and war in context of Carl Schmitt’s political thinking, The theory of the political and the anthropology in C. Schmitt’s early work.

References

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Published

2015-12-20

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Articles