Aquinas's Way to God : The Proof in De Ente Et Essentia

Gaven Kerr provides the first book-length study of St. Thomas Aquinas's much neglected proof for the existence of __God in De Ente et Essentia__ Chapter 4. He offers a contemporary presentation, interpretation, and defense of this proof, beginning with an account of the metaphysical principles used by Aquinas and then describing how they are employed within the proof to establish the existence of God. Along the way, Kerr engages contemporary authors who have addressed Aquinas's or similar reasoning. The proof developed in the __De Ente__ is, on Kerr's reading, independent of many of the other proofs in Aquinas's corpus and resistant to the traditional classificatory schemes of proofs of God. By applying a historical and hermeneutical awareness of the philosophical issues presented by Aquinas's thought and evaluating such philosophical issues with analytical precision, Kerr is able to move through the proof and evaluate what Aquinas is saying, and whether what he is saying is true.By means of an analysis of one of Aquinas's earliest proofs, Kerr highlights a foundational argument that is present throughout the much more commonly studied Thomistic writings, and brings it to bear within the context of analytical philosophy, showing its relevance to the contemporary reader. Gaven Kerr provides the first book-length study of St. Thomas Aquinas's much neglected proof for the existence of God in De Ente et Essentia Chapter 4. He offers a contemporary presentation, interpretation, and defense of this proof, beginning with an account of the metaphysical principles used by Aquinas and then describing how they are employed within the proof to establish the existence of God. Along the way, Kerr engages contemporary authors who have addressed Aquinas's or similar reasoning. The proof developed in the De Ente is, on Kerr's reading, independent of many of the other proofs in Aquinas's corpus and resistant to the traditional classificatory schemes of proofs of God. By applying a historical and hermeneutical awareness of the philosophical issues presented by Aquinas's thought and evaluating such philosophical issues with analytical precision, Kerr is able to move through the proof and evaluate what Aquinas is saying, and whether what he is saying is true. By means of an analysis of one of Aquinas's earliest proofs, Kerr highlights a foundational argument that is present throughout the much more commonly studied Thomistic writings, and brings it to bear within the context of analytical philosophy, showing its relevance to the contemporary reader. (Publisher) Gaven Kerr provides the first book length study of St. Thomas Aquinas's much neglected proof for the existence of God in De Ente et Essentia Chapter 4. He offers a contemporary presentation, interpretation, and defense of this proof, beginning with an account of the metaphysical principles used by Aquinas and then describing how they are employed within the proof to establish the existence of God. Along the way, Kerr engages contemporary authors who have addressed Aquinas's or similar reasoning. The proof developed in the De Ente is, on Kerr's reading, independent of many of the other proofs in Aquinas's corpus and resistant to the traditional classificatory schemes of proofs of God. By applying a historical and hermeneutical awareness of the philosophical issues presented by Aquinas's thought and evaluating such philosophical issues with analytical precision, Kerr is able to move through the proof and evaluate what Aquinas is saying, and whether what he is saying is true. By means of an analysis of one of Aquinas's earliest proofs, Kerr highlights a foundational argument that is present throughout the much more commonly studied Thomistic writings, and brings it to bear within the context of analytical philosophy, showing its relevance to the contemporary reader. Kerr Examines St Thomas Aquinas's Much-neglected Proof For The Existence Of God In 'de Ente Et Essentia', Chapter 4. He Offers A Contemporary Presentation And Interpretation Of This Proof As Well As A Defence. Beginning With The Distinction Between The Key Concepts Of 'essence' And 'esse' In Aquinas's Thought, The Book Moves From An Account Of These Metaphysical Principles To Their Use By Aquinas In Establishing That There Is A Single Unique Primary Cause From Which All That Is Comes To Be. Along The Way, Important Themes In Metaphysics Are Examined From A Thomistic Perspective. Essence/esse Distinction And Composition -- The Argumentation For Real Distinction In De Ente, Cap. 4 -- Essence -- Esse -- The Proof Of God -- The Causal Principle -- The Per Aliud Principle And Infinite Regress -- Esse Tantum -- Creation. Gaven Kerr, Op. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book offers a contemporary interpretation and defense of a much neglected proof for the existence of God offered by St Thomas Aquinas in De Ente et Essentia. The book establishes that Thomas is on firm ground when he concludes that there exists a single unique source of being from which all that is comes to be.