Concept

Actus purus

Overview

term employed in scholastic philosophy to express the absolute perfection of God

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Absolute actuosity. The _Notio Dei_ according to Thomas Aquinas, as well as the dogmatics of post-Reformation times, is _actus purus_ (or _actus purissimus_). For God _nihil potentialitatis habet._ Cf. _Werke, xii._228: 'Aristotle especially has conceived God under the abstract category of activity.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, The Logic of Hegel
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But a Catholic who says: "An idol is not God," contradicts a pagan who says: "An idol is God." Therefore "God" in both senses is spoken of univocally. Obj. 2: Further, as an idol is God in opinion, and not in truth, so the enjoyment of carnal pleasures is called happiness in opinion, and not in truth.
Aquinas Thomas, Summa Theologica, Part I
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Erit enim eo praestantius aliquid perfectum possidens bonum, quod hoc prius atque antiquius esse uideatur; omnia namque perfecta minus integris priora esse claruerunt. Quare ne in infinitum ratio prodeat, confitendum est summum deum summi perfectique boni esse plenissimum. Sed perfectum bonum ueram esse beatitudinem constituimus; ueram igitur beatitudinem in summo deo sitam esse necesse est." "Accipio," inquam, "nec…
Boethius, The Theological Tractates and The Consolation of Philosophy
Close in meaning to Actus purus; the term itself is not named.
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Philosophers who discussed Actus purus

Related ideas

Opposing perspectives

Causa sui

Place in the tradition

Part of Thomism.

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