Metaphysics Midterm Trabbic

Why is metaphysics the highest science that we are capable of by reason?

Metaphysics studies the first principles of reality as a whole

How does be-ing relate to a being?

Be-ing relates to being as the act by which a being is a being

In what way are running and a runner analogous to be-ing and a being? Be prepared not only to state the analogy but explain it.

1. Running relates to a runner as be-ing relates to being in the sense that running and bei-ing is the act that makes the runner as a runner and the being as a being

2. What a runner does is run and what a being does is be

3. Be-ing as a verb is an act that makes being as a noun what it is just like running (verb) is an act that makes a runner (noun) what it is

Why is it not possible to give a strict definition of being or be-ing?

1. To give a strict definition of anything is to put it into a larger class that contains it. But nothing is larger or more expansive than Be-ing or Being. So we cannot classify it in a strict sense. We can describe it but not define it by putting it into a larger class. A rose is a flower, taken the rose and put it in a larger class of flowers.

Explain what it means for different uses of the same term to be related in a univocal way, an equivocal way, and an analogical way.

1. Univocal: when I use the same term in one case and another but I mean it in the same ways when it is predicated of diverse things according to exactly the same concept - exactly the same meaning but different applications (palm and oak are trees) inflexible, always mean the same thing

2. Equivocal: same term in two different cases meaning it in different ways predicated of diverse things according to an entirely different concept - a palm is a tree and I have a coin in my palm. external

3. Analogy: same term is use to mean something that is partly the same but vastly different one and the same name is predicated of many according to concepts which are not entirely different but agree and some common point - good pizza and good car (different kind of good)

Briefly define analogy of attribution, metaphorical analogy, and analogy of proper proportionality.

1. Analogates - things that are analogous to each other. Comparing analogate and you have the property you are considering analogous. Pizza and car are analogate

2. analogy of attribution: the analogous attribute belongs intrinsically to the primary analogote but extrinsically to the secondary analogates and only in their relation to the primary analogate. Example: living things are healthy abd there are attributes that indicate health, this person has a healthy complexion. It is not the complexion that is healthy but a sign of the health of the person. Analogous attribute is health, primary person, secondary complexion  

   1. the nature signified by the concept is intrinsically realized in the primary analogate but attributed to the others only insofar as they have a relationship to the primary analogate. 

   2. Health in peter, healthy complexion only in so far as peter

   3. Peter is healthy, he has a healthy complexion. The concept is intrisic to healthy is not intrinsic to complexion but it is a sign of the health he has

3.  metaphorical analogy: the analogous attribute belongs to one analogate in a real and literal way but does not belong to the other analogate in a real and literal way but only because the other analogate has some attribute that makes it in some respect like the first analogate. Granite is a rock, God is my rock. God isn;t literally a rock in the way that granite is, but there is something about God that makes him like granite, trustworthy, firm, stable. 

   1. the nature signified by the term is realized formally and intrinsically in one of the analogous and then the other or others intrinsically and virtually only with respect to the secondary characteristics such as the activity it's nature. belongs to one thing intrinsically and literally but not to the other intrinsically and literally 

4.  analogy of proper proportionality: the analogous attribute belongs to all analogates intrinsically and is realized in them in different ways 

   1. in an analogy of proper proportionality the nature signified by the concept is formally and intrinsically realized in each of the analogates according to proportional similarity. (Seeing is to the eye and understanding is to the mind)

   2. Pizza and car are good. 

   3. Hearing is to the ear as sight is to the eye

What is logical being? What is real being?

1. Logical being exists as a thought in our mind, may also exist in reality. Logical being or being of reason we mean something which has reference to “to be” only as an object of the intellect; in other words it's whole “to be” consists in being considered by the intellect.

2. Real being is any being that exists outside of our mind in reality

What is a transcendental property of being? Why is a transcendental property of being “transcendental”?

1. A property that belongs to every being insofar as it is a being. If it is a being it will have this property. 

2. Because it is above the categories. Not restricted to any class, it transcends all classes of being.

 List the transcendentals. Include the controversial transcendental on this list too.

1. Thing - has essence

2. One- unified/unity

3. Otherness - not non-being (NOT transcendental when taken as some other thing)

4. True- can be known

5. Good - perfect in some way

6. Beauty - that which pleases when seen. Integrity, harmony, clarity, 

State the third argument on Handout 1. This is the argument that concludes “Every being as a being is good.”

1. If x is perfect then x is good

2. If x is a being then x is perfect

3. If x is a being then x is good

4. Therefore every being as a being is good

 What is evil? 

Privation of a due good. Lack of a good that should be present

State the principle of non-contradiction.

A thing cannot exist and not exist at the same time and in the same respect

State the principle of identity.

1. Being is being. Everything is identical with itself. 

Briefly explain metaphysical, physical, and moral identity.

1. Metaphysical identity: sameness with itself of a thing which is not subject to any changes whatsoever (only in God)

2. Physical identity: sameness with itself of a thing was nature remains the same although it undergoes changes in secondary respects (child to adult)

3. Moral identity: kind of identity that a society has. spoken of with respect to a moral body, which is considered to remain the same as long as the same bond unites members, even if the original members have been gradually replaced by others (church, school) cooperation to achieve a goal - church, school

Briefly explain the difference between a logical and a real distinction. 

1. Logical distinction: distinction exists in our minds, may also reflect something in reality but is distinct, different only in our minds - morning and evening star (exist only in the consideration of the intellect which apprehends one in the same reality by two or more concepts)

2. Real distinction: outside our mind. different in reality - clay and the shape of clay (exist independently of the mind)

Are things that are really distinct necessarily separable from each other? 

1. No

2. Things that are really distinct are not necessarily separable for eachother

3. Real distinction: two thing have independent non-identical ontological realities

4. Separability: one can exist without the other

5. Clay and the shape of clay are distinct but cannot exist without the other

6. Essence cannot exist without existence and existence must be the existence of some essence

Define change using act and potency.

1. Change is the passage from potency to act

2. Actualization of a potency

Give an example of a change using act and potency.

Change is the passage of something from potency to act. When the potency is actualized the child has changed. Child going to an adult. Acorn has potential to become oak and as it grows it actualizes this potential

What does it mean to say that all potency is ordered to act?

Every potency is something that can be actualized in some way

Does act in itself depend in any way on potency?

No. but potency is dependent on act. Not all acts are ordered to potency nor all acts depend on potency. Act has a primacy to potency

How does be-ing relate to essence?

1. Be-ing (as an act) relates to essence, as act relates to potency

2. Be-ing:Essence

3. Act:potency

What are the fundamental constituents of a being?

1. Be-ing (is that which makes it the case that it is, act by which a being is a being) and Essence (what it is)

What are the two kinds of beings?

1. Substance and accidents

2. Being in itself and being in another

What is a substance?

1. The subject which accidents inhere

2.  it exists in itself and does not need to inhere in another

3.  that to whose nature is due at a “to be” in itself and not in another

4. That which exist on its own independently in some respect

What is an accident?

1. that to whose nature is due a “to be” in another as in the subject

2. That which exists in another substance

Briefly define: material cause, formal cause, efficient cause, final cause, exemplary cause.

1. A cause is an ontological principal which exercise is a positive influence upon the “to be” if something else

   1. Material cause: the principle of potency in a body. That in a body which makes the body something that can change and take on different forms. that from which is imminent material a thing comes into being. that from watch something is made

   2. Formal cause: the principle in it that determines its essence. the form or pattern, the definition of the essence. intrinsic form species, extrinsic the likeness of which the thing is said to be made

   3. Efficient Cause: that from which the change or resting from change first begins. First principle of change in the order of execution. Efficient cause brings something into being absolutely or changes it in some way

   4. Final Cause: the end for the sake of which a thing is done or made. That for the sake of which something is done. Immediate or ultimate

   5. Exemplary Cause: the idea that an intelligent efficient cause has of the effect that it produces.

 How do a primary and secondary cause relate to the effect that they produce?

1. Primary efficient cause is the ultimate cause of the effect while the secondary cause would produce the effect but only with the help of the primary cause. 

2. Pool cue and balls

Explain what an essentially ordered causal series is. Give an example.

1. In an Essentially Ordered Causal Series the efficient cause of the effect must exist and be producing its effect for as long as the effect exists

2. Singing: cannot function or cause at all without the active, ongoing presence of the prior cause

Explain what an accidentally ordered causal series is. Give an example. 

1. Effect can continue to exist even after its efficient cause ceases to exist and produce it

2. Carpenter: Man carving a statue

State the principle of causality.

1. If a being begins to have be-ing (existence) it must have an efficient cause of its be-ing (existence)

 State the principle of proportionate causality.

1. An efficient cause must have whatever is required to bring about its effect. Or it could have more than is required.