Sed Contra: A Podcast of Catholic Theology What the Meaning of the Word 'Is' Is
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May 5, 2025 Elliot Polsky, an associate member of SDP and philosophy instructor at St. John Vianney Seminary, dives deep into the intricate meaning of the word 'is.' He discusses medieval theories, including the copulative theory and Avicenna's aspect theory, revealing how this simple verb shapes philosophical thought. The conversation highlights Aquinas's unique perspectives on existence and the profound implications of 'is' in relation to the Eucharist and essence. This fascinating exploration intertwines historical insights with contemporary relevance, making philosophy accessible and engaging.
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Copulative Theory Explained
- The copulative theory understands "is" differently based on its sentence position: signifying existence alone or acting as mere conjunction.
- This theory is prevalent in modern logic but differs significantly from medieval interpretations.
Aspect Theory in Arabic Grammar
- The aspect theory, inspired by Avicenna, treats "is" as signifying existence or presence uniformly in all contexts.
- This theory is linguistically rooted in Arabic grammar and differs from Western views by treating predicates as accusative objects.
Challenges of Copulative and Aspect Theories
- The copulative theory struggles with existential import in predicative sentences, implying propositions can be true without subjects existing.
- The aspect theory faces difficulties defining the accident of existence or being assigned to subjects.
