Aseitas

/ˌeɪsiːˈɪtəs/ noun

Definition

A philosophical term meaning the quality of being self-sufficient or existing through one's own nature; self-existence.

Etymology

From Latin 'a se' (from itself, by itself) + '-itas' (quality of). This Scholastic philosophical term developed to describe God's necessary self-existence independent of any cause.

Kelly Says

Medieval theologians debated aseitas constantly—the idea that God is the only being that exists 'from itself' while everything else depends on something else to exist, which is pretty mind-bending stuff!

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