Introduction

The issue of whether there is a real distinction between essence and esse has been a
philosophical and a theological problem for centuries for which many philosophers and
theologians have been dealing with. It is a serious question which is still on going that is there a
distinction between the two concepts and, if so, what the nature of that distinction is. The
concept of essence is central to many philosophical and theological discussions, especially in
the fields of metaphysics. The concept of esse, on the other hand, is concerned with the
existence of things in the world. The two concepts have a close relationship but they have
different meanings that distinguish them from each other. The fact that the two terms are
closely related, it arises the debate among philosophers and theologians about whether there is
a real distinction between the two concepts. Some argue that essence and esse (being) are two
sides of the same coin, and that they cannot be separated. Others maintain that there is a real
distinction between the two concepts, and that this distinction is essential to understanding the
nature of reality.This paper is intended to give an Illustration of how the two concepts are really
distinct.

Distinction Between Esse and Essence

In philosophy, an esse refers to act of existance of something whether it is a physical object or

an abstract concept. It can refer to anything that is distinct and identifiable. It can also refer to
that which is or that which is real 1. It is derived from the verb "to be" and it signifies things as
they are in reality are often classified into three broad categories: concrete, abstract, and
conceptual. Physical objects, such as a tree or a chair, are examples of concrete beings, while
abstract entities include ideas, numbers, and emotions. Conceptual entities, on the other hand,
refer to properties, relations, and classes. In summary, Esse (entities) are anything that can be
identified and considered as existing in the world.

Essence, on the other hand, refers to the intrinsic nature of things. It is what makes something
what it is2, and it is often referred to as the "whatness" of things. It is that which specifies a
1Thomas Luis Clavell Thomas Malendo,METAPHYSICS (Manila: Sinag-tala Publishers, Inc, 1991),18

2
T.luis, Metaphysics,20
thing, the nature of a thing that differentiates it from other things. it is therefore by essence
that entities have names different from that of other entities. It is often considered to be the
defining characteristic of something, and it is what gives objects their identity. In essence, it is
what makes an entity what it is. For instance, the essence of a tree is its capacity to grow and
produce oxygen, while the essence of a chair is its ability to provide a comfortable place to sit.
Essence is often regarded as the essential feature of something, and it is what makes something
distinct from other things.

In composite substances, essence is composed of both matter and form this means that form
alone or matter alone cannot be called essence. Matter alone cannot be the essence because it
does not allow a thing to be knowable or fixed in its species and genus. Also Form alone cannot
be the essence because it does not include the actualization of matter that makes a thing a
particular being. This also applies to the accidents for they do not have a perfect essence while
a form or matter is a being in its self because it is real and same applies to the accidents
because they are actual beings since esse refers to the existence. 3

The term Esse(being) can be understood in two ways first it refers to all things that are.
secondly it can be used in reference to the truth of a proposition either to affirm or to deny that
truth of a given reality4 in contrast essence can only be understood in one way that is to say to
refers to the fundamental nature of something, which is common to all members of a particular
class or category. Being is therefore a broader term that encompasses both positive realities
and non-realities, whereas essence is more specific in that it refers only to the fundamental
nature of something.

According to Aristotle, Esse( being )can be classified into two categories: substances and
accidents. Substances are beings that exist independently, while accidents are attributes or
characteristics that are attached to substances. In his book Metaphysics, Aristotle discusses the
relationship between substance and essence, stating that "the essence of each thing is what it

3
Silvano Borruso, Thomas Aquinas Entity and essence (Nairobi: Consolata institute of philosophy press, 2001),23

4
Silvano Borruso, Thomas Aquinas Entity and essence (Nairobi: Consolata institute of philosophy press, 2001),19
is said to be primarily"5 This means that essence is the defining characteristic of a substance,
and it is what makes a substance what it is. For Aristotle, essence is what distinguishes one
substance from another.

Jean-Paul Sartre provides a different perspective on the distinction between being and essence
in n his book Being and Nothingness. Sartre argues that entities(beings ) do not have a fixed
essence, as their essence is constantly changing depending on their circumstances. He states
that "existence precedes essence" 6 which means that entities exist first and then define their
essence based on their experiences and actions. According to Sartre, essence is not a fixed
attribute of things, but rather something that emerges from their interactions with the world.

According to Martin Heidegger, Esse(beings) exist in different modes which he calls

"ontological structures." 7He states that essence is closely related to the mode of being of an
entity. For Heidegger, beings are not simply there, but rather they exist in a particular context
and in relation to other esses. This means that essence is not an absolute feature of things but
rather something that emerges from their relationships with other beings.

Alain Badiou provides a different perspective on the distinction between esse and essence In his
book Being and Event where he argues that essence is not something that is inherent in
entities(beings), but rather something that is constructed through a process of eventalization.
He states that "an event is the creation of a new possibility of being, which ruptures the current
8
situation and produces a new truth" According to Badiou, essence is not fixed but rather
something that emerges from the creation of new possibilities. In his view, essence is not
something that distinguishes one entity from another, but rather something that emerges from
the recognition of new possibilities within entities.

The essence of a being is not a property separate from the being, but rather it is the principle
that underlies and reveals the appearances of that being. In other words, the essence is not an
5
C.D.C.Reeve, Aristotle metaphysics,(Indiana: Hackett publishing company inc,1998),79

6
Hazel E.Barnes, Jean Paul Sartre Being and Nothingness,(New York: Washington press,2003), 32

7
John Macquarrie & Edward Robinson Martin Heidegger Being and time (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1962),277

8
Oliver Feltham Alain Badiou Being and events, (continuum,2006), 27
independent and hidden property, but rather inseparable from the being itself.Essence refers
to the meaning or principle behind the appearances that an object presents, while Esse(being )
refers to the mode of existence of the object itself.

The essence of an object is the totality of qualities that it presents, while its esse is not a quality
or meaning, but simply its existence. The object does not possess being or relate to it in any
way, but rather being is the condition that allows for the object's revelation. 9

Conclusion

In conclusion, the concepts of esse and essence have been widely discussed in different
philosophical works, and they have distinct meanings that distinguish them from each other.
Esse refer to the act of existance, while essence refers to the intrinsic nature of things. The
main distinction between esse and essence is that essence is what makes a being what it is,
while esse refers to the substance itself. Additionally, the relationship between esse and
essence varies depending on the philosopher's perspective. For some, essence is a fixed
attribute of things, while for others, it is something that is constantly evolving. Overall, the
distinction between esse and essence is essential in understanding the ontological nature of
things and how they relate to each other.

9
Hazel E.Barnes,Jean Paul Satre being and nothingness, (New York: Washington press, 2007),xlix