Book Description
I present the fifth volume of the series entitled Introduction to Thomistic Metaphysics. In this work, I study the entity in motion. Its explanation is based on the doctrine of act and potency. Although some consider the development of this doctrine as the "essence" of Thomism, I limit myself to mentioning this opinion without participating in it. I do not see the matter so clearly. For the moment. What is certain is that, after Aristotle and St. Thomas, the problem of being and the entity cannot be studied without reference to act and potency. For being is said in various senses. And one of them is being in act and being in potency. Discuss this necessarily leads us to the motion. Or even to the change and becoming of being. That is, to the Philosophy of Nature or Physics. Although it is rather bold to divide the Philosophy of Being from the Philosophy of Nature in Aristotle, we have respected this division. The metaphysical consideration of change or motion compels the physical consideration of it. I have tried to be as clear and didactic as possible on a subject on which Aristotle was not as clear and didactic as one would wish. The interchangeable use of the terms change and motion, which he first considers distinct and then synonymous, creates some confusion. I have omitted a Prologue, considering it superfluous, and proceed directly to the topics, distributed in 8 chapters, as follows: 1-The reality of change. 2-The change. 3-The motion. 4-The matter. 5-The form. 6-Introduction to act and potency. 7-The potency. 8-The act. Finally, an Epilogue in the form of questions and answers; and Notes. The references to other authors are numerous, as is my custom.
