LEOBELO JOFEL DELICANA METAPHYSICS

AB Philosophy

Shining out of nothingness-Light
Born into the world, there was a point in our lives when we first opened our eyes. So to
say, that is the moment when we first saw light. Objects appear to us but because we are still
infants, we were void of what these things we saw were. We were void of what those things we
saw were but we somehow recognize that are. All of us then grew to reason that we can now
say what things around us are. Still, the recognition that things around us are remains.
Wonderful it is that things around us are. Now that I have been consciously in contact with
metaphysics, I can now use the appropriate term to these things around us which are -beings.
These beings are those which have esse or the act of existence. This esse is the first act,
for all other properties of an object would not be possible if its act of existence is not present.
Before we could realize what a thing is, we must first know that it is. Esse is an act not a state for
it is never static but always in motion or dynamic. If then a thing is a being and has esse or the
act of existence, it also has an active presencing. It means that by its act of existence, it tells us I
am present, that I am not nothing.
In this metaphysical analysis on esse, my model would be light. The presence of light
may be a normal thing for us but there are instances when we really appreciate its presence. I
chose light as my model on esse because of one experience. Last Christmas vacation, when the
eve of the 24
th
was nearing, there was a brownout. Somehow, I had an abrupt realization within
myself that Christmas would be odd if it would be dark. It all makes sense. I unknowingly
appreciated light and its presence or existence. However, I could also say that I appreciated it
only because it served a purpose in my life. And therefore, that which I appreciated is its essence.
That which I appreciated is the whatness of light. That which I appreciated was the fact that light
is the reason why I see all other objects and people around me.
The essence of light would have never been known to me if there is no existence of a
being named light in the first place. Light must first of all be, before one would be able to
appreciate its properties which follow. In other words, esse or the act of existence is the first act.
The esse or act of existence of light must have primacy over all of its other properties in a sense.
Although we believe that esse, agere and essence of a thing are coexistent (exists at the same
time) our rational mind will tell us that a being must first be before it will realize its essence or
purpose.
Truly, it is because of light that we see things around us. Many if not all of us would
agree that is no such thing as light, we would never have known or appreciated the many things
around us. If it is pitch dark then I would be able to say that what I can perceive is darkness and
would never be light. Therefore, it is also true that when I see light it is never totally dark
(because light might sometimes be dim). The essence of light is the limitation of its esse.
Therefore, once there is no longer the essence of light in a certain place, when we can no longer
see objects, we could say that the act of existence of light is also absent in that place. There can
never be light which is not light. For if it is not light which is present, we could already conclude
that what is there is darkness. Darkness is the absence of light. We cannot deny the fact that
many activities of our everyday lives as complex beings, as humans, would have been impossible
if there is no such thing as light.
Another reason why I also chose light as my model in this analysis is because for me,
light somehow depicts a rising into being, an upsurge -esse. On the other hand, I illustrate
darkness as nothingness. It is for the reason that for me, my picture of nothingness is something
very dark. Now, knowing that light is also a being in this world, one could say that it is active.
Needless to say it is not passive in a way that it is merely static in this world.
Light also communicates to us. Things around us communicate to us. This is not in a
literal sense. By their mere existence, they already say many things to us. Let us take light for
example. Light tells us, I am here and now you could see things. Without me, you are in
darkness. The things that light tells us is limitless. This is the work of a beings agere, the
second act. Saying that agere is the second act does not mean that it is of less importance than
esse. Truly we say that esse is the root of ontological perfection. We emphasize it as the root
because without the act of existenc (esse) a being would actually cease to be and become
nothingness. However, it is also tru that agere as the second act, as the action which overflows
from a beings existence is the fulfilment in a being. Agere or action follows naturally from
existence. It is because of these actions that we could identify real beings from mental beings and
possible beings. Real beings are the ones with real and material existence in this world. Mental
beings and possible beings on the other hand are those which are non-material such as abstract
concepts or ideas. Take our model for example: the fulfilment of light as a being is the fact that it
has actions. Again, these action are not literally understood. But from a philosophical and
metaphysical viewpoint, light has an action in saying Without me all other beings will plunge
into darkness. This of method of personifying light is a means of explaining what actions a
being is able to do. This action is also true to every being around us. All of them communicate to
us as a natural basis of their ecistence.
Why then would action be necessary for a being? St. Thomas Aquinas directed this to
the function of action as self expression. Beings here are given the notion that they are perfect in
their own way of existence that as having its own perfection, it pours out this perfection and
shares it with other beings. For Aristotle, self realization is also a function of every being for in
some way it is also poor and limited. A certain being does not carry within its existence the
perfection that other beings also have. So, being also poor in its existence, it needs action to
share from other beings which also give of their own perfection from their own existence. Light
in a sense is perfect as a being in its act when it provides illumination. However, as light
illumines, what then would that be of good if it has nothing to illumine? Logically, it entails
other beings to be share with it its goodness and also its poorness. Knowing these natures of the
action or agere of beings, we could somehow appreciate each beings design to fulfil the
existence of other beings. As human beings, this gives us the notion that other beings outside of
our own existence fulfil the poorness we have as human beings. Also, this becomes a challenge
for us human beings to also share our own perfection in our existence so as for other beings to
benefit from it. Beings participate in the entire ascent out of nothingness by making actions and
by sharing it with every other being making it a give and take situation.
Why are there beings and not nothing? This is the question of wonder of Martin
Heidegger. Going back to the experience of that brownout last December 24 when it was nearing
midnight, I somehow realized how wonderful Heideggers question was. Somehow, I start to
point out One that must have been causing the existence of these beings. Needless to say, light
and all other beings did not cause themselves. What a wonderful thought that this deep reflection
started on the eve of the 24. Being rational beings, our reason tends to point out that something
must have caused light. With the thought that something as essential as light exists in our lives,
and that something so useful and vibrant exists, again our reason points out to one thing.
Something which is more beautiful or to be precise, Something which is most beautiful must be
the cause of light. A Being which is perfect in its own existence and is without poorness must be
the cause of all beings