The problem of universals in Thomas Aquinas

Abstract

The article deals with the question of the universals posed by Thomas Aquinas in his early work De ente et essentia. In the first part of the article the philosophical horizon, within which Thomas’ question and answer are articulated, is examined: the division of universals into the universals ante rem, in re, post rem; threefold consideration of the essence; indifference of the essence and the distinction between essence per modum partis and per modum totius. In the second part of the article the author analyzes Thomas’ solution to the problem. According to Aquinas essence is universal only in the human intellect. The notion of universality is attributed to essence on the basis of its comparison with the extra-mental things which have that essence, and of the realisation that essence in the intellect is unum quid omnibus conveniens.