In metaphysics a question that is well thought out is the difference of a thing coming into existence vs existing. In this paper I will examine Avicenna’s work “The book of healing” specifically focused on book six. While contrasting through Aquinas’ work, chapter titled “The Special Effects of the Divine Government.” Avicenna no doubt has a presence of religion, specifically God, yet seems to go into great detail. Avicenna presents that we assume in an act of being. In order to distinguish between a cause of becoming and the being itself we must look at the existence of a thing itself. Aquinas, argues for a greater presence of God. That God controls all of the things that come into existence. Except for angels and heavenly bodies. By the end of this paper I …show more content…
One would presuppose that a building is an existing thing. But how can we argue that this is something that comes into existence. Enter the cause, motion. Avicenna utilizes motion in order to describe how something can come into being. The motion of the builder is creating (using the materials) the building. Just as a sperm moves into the uterus, followed by fertilization and there a fetus is created. Avicenna concludes that a thing would have motion “either as its cause or sharer of its cause.” (Avicenna 6.2.8)
Aquinas’ approach examines whether a thing is kept in being, specifically with the help of God. Aquinas argues we must consider that a thing is conserved indirectly and accidentally; as well as essentially and directly. In both respects, Aquinas presents that God controls all things. Aquinas refers to Augustine as saying that “if the ruling of power of God were withdrawn from His creatures, their nature would once cease, and all nature would collapse.” (ST 1.104.1) Aquinas concludes that every effect depends on its cause, therefore we must examine the difference between a becoming of a thing and its