Abstract

The aim of this study is to present in complete and accurate way one of the possible positions, i.e nondeflationary treatment of existence, in an interesting metaphysical dispute – the dispute over the status of existence. Moreover, the arguments and thesis from historically distinct periods are analysed to show that the knowledge of the history of philosophy is not a ballast. On the contrary, it can be creatively used in the contemporary discussion and deepen the understanding of this issue. The issue of the truth and the search for a proper description of reality has played a central role already in the very beginnings of philosophical research. However, reflection on the existence remained in the shadow of the drop-down theory of being and related theory of essence. At that time was developed (to the fullest extent expressed by Aristotle) a deflationary (reductionist) theory, according to which existence is not real, because it does not add anything to the essence which was identified with a being. Mere existence, as a part of reality that requires knowledge and examination, appeared later, in the era of flourishing Arab (Muslim and Jewish) and Latin philosophy, in the context of the philosophical study of the nature of God the Creator, who creates a whole reality out of nothingness. At that time the first metaphysical theories appeared, in which the existence was recognised as a real, irreducible element of reality. In this paper the history of extracting the non-reductionist theories of existence (in which it is treated as a real ‘component’ of being) is presented, with particular attention to the position of St. Thomas Aquinas as the creator of one of the most mature version of these theories. Subsequently, based on the example of the main representatives, the scholastic debate over the so-called ‘real difference’ (centred around the merits of maintaining the non-deflationary position) is shown. In the last section the contemporary debate over the existence is presented, with a focus on philosophers appealing (affirmatively or critically) to the theory of Aquinas. The presentation is mainly historical. Metaphysical theories, within which the status of the existence is recognised in different ways, are considered. The main point of reference is the doctrine of esse of Aquinas (as a blueprint for non-deflationary approach to existence), which is juxtaposed with the positions of other philosophers, i.e. with the classical (Aristotle, Godfrey of Fontaines) and contemporary reductionism (Frege, Russell, Quine, Kenny) and also other types of non-reductionist theories (Avicenna, Giles of Rome, Geach, Miller). The main conclusion is that the nondeflationary theory of Aquinas is coherent, plausible and still actual in XXI century.