Explorations in Metaphysics: Being-God-Person (Series in Financial Economics and)

This collection of essays is a compilation of the thought and work of W. Norris Clarke, S.J., a philosopher inspired by the Thomistic tradition, who in 45 years of teaching and writing has delved into many of the central problems of perennial philosophy and made a significant contribution to the ongoing history of American Thomism.The essays presented here reflect an internal unity-each essay deliberately building on the positions put forth in the preceding ones-as they progress systematically through the themes of metaphysics and philosophy of God. Clarke begins with an overall survey of what in Aquinas's metaphysics is most relevant for today, and then suggests the most fruitful starting point for a contemporary presentation of such a metaphysics. The next five essays discuss key positions in metaphysics and are followed by two essays on the philosophy of God. The final essay illuminates key themes in Clarke's most recent work on the human person. Clarke's examination of topics in all these areas is especially concerned with the notions of action and participation in existence as being central to the metaphysical study of reality. This then leads to a close study of the often misunderstood Thomistic doctrine of analogy and how it functions in the construction of a viable philosophy of God.The overall spirit that permeates the volume is Clarke's firm conviction that the philosophical thought of St. Thomas Aquinas is an inexhaustibly rich and profound resource, and his purpose is to share this conviction with contemporary philosophers. In so doing Clarke both reflects and triggers significant new directions in contemporary Thomistic thought. This Collection Of Essays Is A Compilation Of The Thought And Work Of W. Norris Clarke, A Philosopher Inspired By The Thomistic Tradition. Each Essay Offers Arguments Built On The Points Made In Previous Ones As They Address The Themes Of The Metaphyics Of Reality And The Philosophy Of God. --publisher. 1. What Is Most And Least Relevant In The Metaphysics Of St. Thomas Today -- 2. The We Are Of Interpersonal Dialogue As The Starting Point Of Metaphysics -- 3. Action As The Self-revelation Of Being: A Central Theme In The Thought Of St. Thomas -- 4. The Limitation Of Act By Potency In St. Thomas: Aristotelianism Or Neoplatonism? -- 5. The Meaning Of Participation In St. Thomas -- 6. To Be Is To Be Substance-in-relation -- 7. Analogy And The Meaningfulness Of Language About God -- 8. Is A Natural Theology Still Viable Today? -- 9. A New Look At The Immutability Of God -- 10. Person, Being, And St. Thomas. W. Norris Clarke. Collection Of Essays (articles, Chapters In Books, Etc.), From Years 1952 To 1993. Includes Bibliographical References. Cover EXPLORATIONS IN METAPHYSICS Title Copyright Dedication CONTENTS Introduction 1. What Is Most and Least Relevant in the Metaphysics of St. Thomas Today 2. The “We Are” of Interpersonal Dialogue as the Starting Point of Metaphysics 3. Action as the Self-Revelation of Being: A Central Theme in the Thought of St. Thomas 4. The Limitation of Act by Potency in St. Thomas: Aristotelianism or Neoplatonism? 5. The Meaning of Participation in St. Thomas 6. To Be Is to Be Substance-in-Relation 7. Analogy and the Meaningfulness of Language about God 8. Is a Natural Theology Still Viable Today? 9. A New Look at the Immutability of God 10. Person, Being, and St. Thomas ABOUT THE AUTHOR Provides a compilation of the thought and work of W. Norris Clarke, S.J., a philosopher inspired by the Thomistic tradition, who in 45 years of teaching and writing has delved into many of the central problems of perennial philosophy and made a significant contribution to the ongoing history of American Thomism.