Autor: Lonergan, Bernard J.F.

Buch: Verbum: Word and Idea in Aquinas

Titel: Verbum: Word and Idea in Aquinas

Stichwort: Compositio vel divisio: zweites inneres Wort; Thomas über "ist" (est)

Kurzinhalt: origin in the Aristotelian use of grammar for..., est, simpliciter dictum, significat in actu esse, but consequently and implicitly, 'est' means the true or false

Textausschnitt: Compositio vel divisio is the usual Thomist name for the second type of inner word. Its origin lies in the Aristotelian use of grammar for the specification of philosophic problems. In the Categories one is told to distinguish between simple and composite forms of speech: the latter are illustrated by 'the man runs,' 'the man wins'; the former by 'man,' 'runs,' 'wins.' In the Peri hermeneias ...
()
This passage Aquinas discussed at length, drawing an illuminating distinction between the primary and the consequent meanings of the verb 'est.' Primarily, '[...] est, simpliciter dictum, significat in actu esse'; but consequently and implicitly, 'est' means the true or false. For the primary meaning of 'est' is the actuality of any form or act, substantial or accidental; but consequently (because actuality involves synthesis with the actuated), and implicitly (because the actuated subject is understood when actuality is affirmed), there is the connotation of truth or falsity in this and other verbs.
()
In Aristotle, it is true, this distinction between the merely synthetic element in judgment and, on the other hand, the positing of synthesis is not drawn clearly.