Scholastic Vocab ( Latin)

Act (actus)

The actualization of a potential; something existing in its full reality.

Potency (potentia)

The capacity for change or becoming something else; the potential state of a being.

Substance (substantia)

That which exists in itself and not in another; a fundamental entity with independent existence.

Accident (accidens)

A property that exists in and modifies a substance but does not constitute its essence.

Essence (essentia)

The fundamental nature of a thing, which makes it what it is.

Existence (existentia)

The act by which an essence is actualized and present in reality.

Form (forma)

The intrinsic principle that gives a thing its specific nature or identity.

Matter (materia)

The underlying potentiality of a physical substance, which receives form.

Hylomorphism

The doctrine that substances are composites of matter (hyle) and form (morphe).

Quiddity (quidditas)

'Whatness'; the essence of a thing that answers the question, 'What is it?'

Ens (being)

That which has existence; a being in general.

Univocity of Being

The doctrine that 'being' is said in exactly the same way of all things.

Analogy of Being (analogia entis)

The doctrine that 'being' is predicated in a way that is neither purely univocal nor purely equivocal, but analogical.

Efficient Cause (causa efficiens)

The agent or force that brings something into existence or change.

Final Cause (causa finalis)

The purpose or end for which something exists.

A priori

Knowledge that is independent of experience, derived from reason alone.

A posteriori

Knowledge that is derived from experience and empirical observation.

Principle of Non-Contradiction

A thing cannot both be and not be in the same respect at the same time.

Principle of Sufficient Reason

Everything that exists must have an adequate reason for its existence.

Abstraction

The process by which the intellect derives universal concepts from particular experiences.

Universals

Concepts or properties that can be instantiated in multiple particulars.

Nominalism

The doctrine that universals are mere names and have no real existence apart from individual things.

Realism

The doctrine that universals exist independently of the mind.

Moderate Realism

The position that universals exist in reality but only in particular things.

Syllogism

A logical argument in which a conclusion follows necessarily from two premises.

Demonstration (demonstratio)

A syllogism that produces necessary and certain knowledge.

Dialectic

The method of reasoning through opposing arguments to arrive at truth.

Analogia fidei (Analogy of Faith)

The principle that Scripture should be interpreted in light of itself, maintaining doctrinal coherence.

Divine Simplicity

The doctrine that God is not composed of parts; His attributes are identical with His essence.

Quoad nos / Quoad se

'As known to us' vs. 'As known in itself.' Used in discussions of God’s nature.

Per accidens / Per se

'By accident' vs. 'By itself.' Used to distinguish contingent vs. essential properties.

Actus purus (Pure Act)

The doctrine that God is fully actualized with no potentiality.

Efficient Grace

Grace that infallibly brings about its intended effect.

Operative vs. Cooperative Grace

Operative grace: God acts alone in regeneration; Cooperative grace: God and man work together in sanctification.

Contingent Being

A being that depends on another for its existence.

Necessary Being

A being whose existence is self-sufficient and not dependent on anything else.

Via negativa (Apophatic Theology)

The method of describing God by negation.

De potentia absoluta ( Absolute power)

What God could do apart from His established order.

Natural Law

The moral order inherent in human nature, discoverable by reason.

Divine Law

Law revealed directly by God, such as in Scripture.

Eternal Law

The unchanging plan of God by which He governs all creation.

Human Law

Laws established by human authorities in accordance with natural law.

Synderesis

The innate habit of the mind that grasps fundamental moral principles.

Virtue (virtus)

A habitual disposition to act rightly.

Prudence (prudentia)

The intellectual virtue of choosing the right means to attain a good end.

Justice (iustitia)

The moral virtue of giving each their due.

Fortitude (fortitudo)

The virtue of courage in facing difficulty.

Temperance (temperantia)

The virtue of moderation and self-control.

Suppositum

An individual substance of a rational nature.

Principium individuationis

The principle that differentiates one individual from another within the same species.

Esse (to be, act of existence)

The act by which something exists in reality.

Ens commune

'Common being'; the general notion of existence shared by all things.

Intentional Being (esse intentionale)

The mode of existence that objects of thought possess in the intellect.

Quod est vs. Quo est

Quod est: 'That which is' vs. Quo est: 'That by which something is'.

Exemplar Cause (causa exemplaris)

The model or archetype according to which something is made.

Ratio cognoscendi

The principle by which something is known.

Fides et ratio

'Faith and reason'; the harmony between theological belief and rational thought.

Scientia

Knowledge obtained through demonstration; contrasted with opinio and fides.

Aeviternity (aevum)

A mode of existence between time and eternity.

Obscure Knowledge (cognitio obscura)

Imperfect or limited knowledge of a truth, contrasted with cognito clara.

Intellectus vs. Ratio

Intellectus: Direct grasp of truth without reasoning; Ratio: Discursive reasoning.

Cognitio per connaturalitatem

Knowledge gained through experience or participation.

Apprehensio, Judicium, Ratiocinatio

The three acts of the intellect: apprehension, judgment, and reasoning.

Infused Knowledge (cognitio infusa)

Knowledge directly given by God.

Argumentum ex convenientia

An argument based on fittingness rather than strict necessity.

Via eminentiae

The way of describing God by attributing perfections in an eminent manner.

Via causalitatis

The method of knowing God through causality.

Theandric Acts

Actions performed by Christ as both God and man.

Hypostatic Union

The union of divine and human natures in the one Person of Christ.

Communicatio idiomatum

The communication of properties between Christ’s divine and human natures.

Sempiternity

Eternal existence with beginning but no end.

Sublation

The process of a lower reality being taken up into a higher one.

Deiformity

The process of becoming like God through grace.

Propter quid vs. Quia

Propter quid: Demonstration from cause to effect vs. Quia: Demonstration from effect to cause.

Motu proprio

An action taken by one’s own initiative.

Recta ratio

'Right reason'; the properly ordered use of reason in accord with moral truth.

Malum culpae vs. Malum poenae

Malum culpae: Moral evil (sin) vs. Malum poenae: The evil of punishment.

Lex aeterna, lex naturalis, lex humana

Lex aeterna: Eternal law; Lex naturalis: Natural law; Lex humana: Human law.

Actus hominis vs. Actus humanus

Actus hominis: An action performed without full rational deliberation vs. Actus humanus: A fully voluntary and rational action.

Double Effect (Principium Duplicis Effectus)

The principle that an action with both good and bad effects may be permissible under certain conditions.

Speculative vs. Practical Intellect

Speculative Intellect: Concerned with knowing truth vs. Practical Intellect: Concerned with action.

Consequent Will (in God)

Consequent Will: God's will in light of circumstances.

Libertas Maior

The freedom that comes from being fully ordered toward the good.

De potentia ordinata ( Ordained Power)

What God actually does according to His decrees

Antecedent Will ( In God)

Antecedent Will: God's general desire for salvation