Philosophy Friday: Arguing Essence and Existence with Dr. Gaven Kerr

Dr. Gaven Kerr returns to The Pat Flynn show for another 2.5 hour crash course in metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and the Aristotelian-Thomistic approach to God.

In this episode:

• An introduction to Aristo-Thomist philosophy.
• The differences between metaphysics, philosophy of nature, and science, and proper role each plays in our understanding of reality.
• Defending Aquinas's famous real-distinction between essence and existence.
• How the real-distinction leads to affirming the existence of God as pure existence itself. (Gaven outlines Aquinas's way to God.)
• Addressing the objection from existential inertia.

Related Material and Episodes

My latest article for WOF summarizes Aquinas's argument:

https://www.wordonfire.org/resources/blog/aquinas-way-to-god-arguing-essence-and-existence/26788/

https://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/how-to-think-about-god-with-dr-gaven-kerr/

About Dr. Kerr

Gaven Kerr is a Thomist from Belfast, Northern Ireland, a married father of three, and a Third Order Dominican. He teaches philosophy at St. Patrick's College Maynooth. He has focused on philosophy and theology throughout his student days and into his academic career, in particular the thought of St Thomas Aquinas. He defends Aquinas's thought within a contemporary context, and by means of that thought he engages with the other non-Thomist traditions.

On a more personal note, Dr. Kerr is a thoroughgoing metal head, martial arts enthusiast, and tattoo aficionado. His newest book is Aquinas and the Metaphysics of Creation. His previous is Aquinas's Way to God: The Proof in the De Ente et Essentia.

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