Esse or Existence? The Real Distinction between Lawrence Dewan and Étienne Gilson

Abstract

One of the most debated issues in the period immediately following the death of Thomas Aquinas was how to interpret faithfully according to his texts the concept of esse, given the particular metaphysical quality that it acquired in this new ontology. Bearing in mind that the scholastic thinkers tried to use philosophy as an instrument to explain Christian faith, the understanding of esse as distinct from essence, was the center of the debate for being the reason of the main argument to state the ontological difference between God and creatures.