The fact that the analogy of being—the most maligned Aristotelian-Thomistic doctrine—is being seriously discussed by contemporary analytic philosophers should encourage Thomists who are hesitant to engage such philosophers with Aquinas’s view of existence. There are other reasons to be encouraged as well. As I have shown, there are a number of strategies available for defending Aquinas’s view of existence in the context of contemporary analytic philosophy. The rival view of existence prevalent among contemporary analytic philosophers is subject to serious objections. At the same time, the main contemporary analytic objections to Aquinas’s view of existence can be answered. The widespread use of “exist(s)” to ascribe existence to individuals and objects provides good reason to think that such use makes sense. Even though its sense cannot be further defended with paraphrases, analogies like those of Aquinas can help to illustrate the commonsense meaning of “exist(s)” to those who doubt it. And the truth of Aquinas’s view of existence as a real property of individuals or objects can be defended at least in principle by appealing to its descriptive and explanatory usefulness. In addition to Aquinas’s own uses of it, there are a number of areas of contemporary analytic metaphysics where his view of existence could likely be of use. These various strategies may not be the only way to defend Aquinas’s view of existence in the context of contemporary analytic philosophy, but they still seem like a good way to try to be an Analytic Existential Thomist. © 2018. All Rights Reserved.
