In medieval and scholastic philosophy, the state or mode of being in act or in reality as opposed to potential existence.
From Latin 'actus,' meaning 'a doing' or 'actuality.' Used primarily in medieval Latin philosophical texts and retained in scholarly discussions of Aristotelian philosophy.
Medieval philosophers obsessed over 'actu' versus 'potentia' (act versus potential)—they'd debate whether a sleeping musician is 'actually' a musician or only 'potentially' one, questions that still fascinate modern philosophers of mind.
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