On Beings of Reason (De Entibus Rationis), Metaphysical Disputation 54

by Francisco Suárez, John P. Doyle (Translator)

English (translation)
Original Latin

170 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1994

About the author

Francisco Suárez (5 January 1548 – 25 September 1617) was a Spanish Jesuit priest, philosopher and theologian, one of the leading figures of the School of Salamanca movement, and generally regarded among the greatest scholastics after Thomas Aquinas. His work is considered a turning point in the history of second scholasticism, marking the transition from its Renaissance to its Baroque phases. According to Christopher Shields and Daniel Schwartz, "figures as distinct from one another in place, time, and philosophical orientation as Leibniz, Grotius, Pufendorf, Schopenhauer, and Heidegger, all found reason to cite him as a source of inspiration and influence."

Reviews

[Lucas Sipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps it's my fault. Another work of philosophy that I (think I) understood but can't put it into words or explain why I think so. Suarez here talks about "Beings of Reason" which are not-real-beings (such as a Chimera) and how it is that we can speak of them but also what they are. There is ample discussion of privation, negation, being, and more. As a scholastic, Suarez basically adheres to Aristotlian principles but he also branches out with his own unique insights. The writing is dry and somewhat convaluted but nothing to difficult to truly grasp.

As the last of his "Metaphysical Disputations", "On Beings of Reason" is in a sense the conclusion of his work. While it has much independent value, not being fully familiar with the previous 53 manuals hindered my appreciation but that's an issue with me and not the text. This work first came to my attention randomly but Heidegger, in "Basic Problems of Phenomenology", cited and spoke on this one in particular. I'm sure a more fruitful read will happen in the next several years.