A Comparative Study between St. Thomas Aquinas s Concept of Ipsum Esse Subsistens CONTENTS Acknowledgements Abbreviations i ii iii Chapter I Introduction 1 1. The Ultimate Reality and Meaning of Writing this Thesis 2. Methodology based on Ricoeur s Theory of Threefold Mimesis 3. Structure of Argument 1 10 18 Chapter II St. Thomas Aquinas s Concept of Ipsum Esse Subsistens 22 2. Meaning, Characteristics and Development of the Thomistic Metaphysics 2.1 Meaning of Thomistic Metaphysics 2.11 Thomistic Metaphysics as First Philosophy 2.12 Thomistic Metaphysics as the Study of Being as Being 2.13 Thomistic Metaphysics as the Study of the Natural Principles of Theology 2.2 Characteristics of Thomistic Metaphysics 2.21 Approaching All Beings in Terms of Analogy 2.22 Conceiving All Beings in Terms of Form and Matter 2.23 Treating All Created Beings as Participants in God s Fullness of Esse 2.24 Depicting All Beings in Terms of Transcendentals 2.25 Defining All Beings in Terms of Esse and Essence 2.26 Relating to All Beings in Terms of Cause and Effect 2.27 Connecting All Beings in Terms of Substance and Accidents 2.28 Distinguishing All Beings in Terms of the Division of Being 2.3 St. Thomas s Development of his Metaphysics of Esse and Essence 2.31 The Metaphysics of Aristotle Christianized by St. Thomas 2.32 Esse and Essence in On Being and Essence 2.33 Esse and Essence in De Veritate 2.34 Development of Esse and Essence in Summa Theologiae 22 24 27 28 28 29 32 33 35 36 38 39 41 42 44 46 48 49 52 56 iii
3. URAM and Challenge of St. Thomas s Metaphysics of Ipsum Esse Subsistens 3.1 URAM of St. Thomas s Metaphysics of Ipsum Esse Subsistens 3.11 The Fundamental Relationship among Ens, Esse and Essence 3.12 God and the Metaphysical Transcendentals 3.13 Ipsum Esse Subsistens (God) as Subsistent Unity Itself 3.14 Ipsum Esse Subsistens (God) as Subsistent Truth and Goodness Itself 3.2 The Challenge of God as Ipsum Esse Subsistens Today 3.21 The Problem of Ipsum Esse Subsistens for Us Today 3.22 The Wonderful Consequence of Ipsum Esse Subsistens for Us Today 3.23 The Challenge of Ipsum Esse Subsistens Today 3.3 URAM of a Participation Metaphysics and Spirituality of IES 3.31 Need for a Participation Metaphysics and Spirituality of God s Esse/Essence 3.32 Challenge in Renewing Traditional Metaphysics and Spirituality 3.33 Linking Participation Metaphysics and Spirituality to Mysticism 59 60 61 62 64 67 71 71 72 73 78 78 80 81 83 Chapter III The Concept of Qi in the Guanzi s Four Daoist Chapters 86 86 2. The Guanzi Si Pian and Metaphysics 2.1 A Brief Analysis of the Guanzi 2.2 A Brief Introduction to Chinese Metaphysics 2.3 The Metaphysics of the Dao in the Guanzi Si Pian 2.31 The Dao as the Ultimate Root of the Universe 2.32 Extensive Envelopment and Permeation of All by the Dao 2.33 The Dao as the Law of the Universe 87 87 95 98 98 99 101 3. The Metaphysics of Qi in the Guanzi Si Pian 3.1 Distinguishing Four Fundamental Categories of Qi in the Guanzi Si Pian 3.11 Dao-Qi 3.111 Jing-Qi or Ling-Qi 3.112 De or De-Qi 3.113 Spirit, Shen or Shen-Qi 3.12 Xing-Qi 3.121 Yi-Qi 3.122 Xue-Qi 3.123 Qi-Yuan 3.13 Shan-Qi or Xin-Qi 102 105 106 107 108 109 110 112 112 113 113 iv
3.14 E-Qi or Bian-Qi 3.2 Dao-Qi-cization of the Universe 3.21 The Eternal Dao Ad Intra 3.22 The Eternal Dao Ad Extra 3.23 The Dao being All in All by Virtue of the Co-operating Xin 3.3 Various Other Descriptions of Dao-Qi-cization of the Universe 3.31 Increasing Participation of the Created esse in the Uncreated Esse of the Dao 3.32 The Process of All in all 3.33 Dao-Qi-cization of All Non-Dao-Qis 3.34 The Process of Transforming the Universe into a Residence of Jing-Qi 3.35 The Process of Practicing the Dao or De for the Whole Created esse 3.36 The Process of Shen-Qi-cization of the Universe 3.37 Fulfillment of the Dao Ad Extra through the Spirituality of the Xin 3.38 Fulfillment of the Dao Ad Extra through the Quiet Non-Action Action 115 117 117 118 120 121 121 123 125 127 129 133 137 140 144 Chapter IV Re-figurating St. Thomas s Concept of Ipsum Esse Subsistens in Terms of the Concept of Qi in the Guanzi s Four Daoist Chapters 151 151 2. Distinguishing Four Fundamental Categories of Being in Terms of Qi or Energy 2.1 God the Uncreated Subsisting Energy-Being Itself and His Uncreated Energy 2.11 IES as the Uncreated Subsisting Energy-Being 2.12 The Uncreated Energy of the Uncreated Subsisting Energy-Being Itself 2.13 Subsisting Energy-Being Itself Permeating the Cosmos with His Uncreated Energy 1. IES as the Transcosmic Burning Bush 2. IES as an Infinite Ocean of Uncreated Substance, Energies or Diamonds 3. IES as the Uncreated Tri-personal Living Heaven Permeating the Universe 2.2 Created Energy-Being and the Human Energy-Being 2.21 Created Energy-Being 2.22 The Human Energy-Being as a Carrier and Radiator of Energies 2.3 Virtuous, Saintly or Godly Created Energy 2.4 Non-Virtuous, Sinful or Ungodly Created Energy 154 155 156 160 165 166 167 169 172 172 173 174 176 3. Divine Energization of the Universe 3.1 Subsisting Energy-Being Itself Ad Intra 3.2 Subsisting Energy-Being Itself Ad Extra 178 179 182 v
3.21 The Divine Act or Process of Creation 3.22 The Divine Act or Process of Salvation 3.23 The Divine Act or Process of Union with Human Energy-Beings 183 186 189 3.3 The Fulfillment of the Subsisting Energy-Being Itself Ad Extra 3.31 Fulfillment of Subsisting Energy-Being Itself Ad Extra via Our Co-operating Xin 1. The Indispensable Role of a Purified Xin 2. Generating an Abundance of Virtuous Energy through a Pure Xin 3. Divine Energization through a Saintly Xin 3.32 Nine Possible Levels of Participation in the Divine Esse or Essence 1. By Non-Believing Human Energy-Beings Filled with Non-Virtuous Energies 2. By Non-Believing Human Energy-Beings Surrounded by Sinful Energies 3. By Human Energy-Beings Doubting about Subsisting Energy-Being Itself 4. By Believing Human Energy-Beings largely Filled with Ungodly Energies 5. By Non-Believing Human-Energy Beings Participating in Virtuous Energies 6. By Believing Human Energy-Beings Participating in Virtuous Energies 7. By Committed Christians Participating Sacramentally in Uncreated Energies 8. By Participating Christians who Care about their Energetic Environment 9. By the Whole Divinized Human Family Participating in Uncreated Energies 3.33 Five Eschatological Fulfillments of the Subsisting Energy-Being Itself Ad Extra 1. The Fulfillment of the Prime Mover of the Universe Ad Extra 2. The Fulfillment of the Uncaused Cause of the Universe Ad Extra 3. The Fulfillment of the Necessary Being of all Creatures Ad Extra 4. The Fulfillment of the Perfect Being of the Totality of Reality Ad Extra 5. The Fulfillment of the Ordering Mind of the Whole Universe Ad Extra 192 193 193 194 196 197 197 198 198 199 199 200 200 201 202 203 204 206 207 209 211 213 Chapter V Re-figurating the Concept of Qi in the Guanzi s Four Daoist Chapters in Terms of St. Thomas s Re-figurated Concept of Ipsum Esse Subsistens 217 217 2. Distinguishing Four Fundamental Categories of Qis in Terms of Being 2.1 God the Tri-personal Subsisting Dao-Being Itself and His Uncreated Dao-Qi 2.11 God s the Uncreated Tri-personal Subsisting Dao-Being or Dao-Qi-Being Itself 2.12 God s Omnipresent Uncreated Dao-Qi or Qi 2.13 The Tri-personal Subsisting Dao-Qi-Being Permeating the Universe with His Qi 2.131 God as the Omnipresent Tri-personal Infinitely Fulfilled Life 2.132 God as the Omnipresent Uncreated Tri-personal Heavenly Family 3.133 God as the Infinitely Omnipresent Ocean of Uncreated Fu-Qis 2.2 Created Qi-Being and the Human Qi-Being 2.21 Created Qi-Being 2.22 The Human Qi-Being as a Carrier and Radiator of Qis 2.3 Saintly Qi 221 222 222 224 225 225 227 228 230 230 231 233 vi
2.4 Sinful Qi 235 3. Divine Dao-Qi-cization of the Universe 3.1 The Eternal Tri-personal Subsisting Dao-Being Itself Ad Intra 3.2 The Eternal Subsisting Dao-Qi-Being Itself Ad Extra 3.21 An Infinite Ocean of Uncreated Fu-Qis Ad Extra 3.22 The Omnipresent Infinitely Fulfilled Life Itself Ad Extra 3.23 The Omnipresent Uncreated Tri-personal Heavenly Family Ad Extra 237 237 239 241 243 246 3.3 The Fulfillment of the Tri-personal Dao-Qi-Being Ad Extra 3.31 Fulfillment of Dao-Qi-Being Ad Extra via Our Co-operating Xins 3.32 Nine Levels of Participation in the Infinite Ocean of Fu-Qis Ad Extra 3.321 The Seven Mansions of The Interior Castle 3.322 Nine Possible Grades of Prayer 1. Vocal Prayer 2. Meditation 3. Affective Prayer 4. Prayer of Simplicity 5. Infused Contemplation 6. Prayer of Quiet 7. Prayer of Union 8. Prayer of Conforming Union 9. Prayer of Transforming Union 3.33 The Role of the Church in the Fulfillment of Subsisting Dao-Qi-Being Ad Extra 3.331 The Church as a Global Qi-Yuan of the Infinite Ocean of Fu-Qis Ad Extra 3.332 The Church as a Happy Family of Fulfilled Lives 3.333 The Church as a Seven-Fold Sacramental Channel of God s Ocean of Fu-Qis Ad Extra 3.334 The Church as a Sacrament Par Excellence of Tian Ren He Yi 3.335 The Church as an All-in-all Sacrament of Tian Ren Yi Jia 247 248 250 252 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 264 265 265 268 270 274 276 279 Chapter VI Conclusions 283 Appendix I: Rare Terms Appendix II: Various Names of Subsistent Being Itself Appendix III: Various Possible Christianized Names of the Dao or Dao-Qi Appendix IV: Synonymous Processes of the Dao or Dao-Qi in the Universe Appendix V: Synonymous Expressions of the Christian Process of Salvation 298 299 301 302 303 Bibliography 304 vii
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