Actus purus

Actus Purus (Latin for " pure act " ) is an expression of the scholastic philosophy of the absolute perfection of God.

Created beings have unrealized opportunities, both in terms of their imperfections as their perfections. Only God is at the same time all that he can be really infinite and infinitely perfect. "I am who I am" ( Exodus 3:14). Its properties and actions are identical to its essence, and its essence ( As -Is ) is inseparably its existence ( being-there ).

In creatures the possibility of reality precedes; before perfection is achieved, their implementation must be possible. In absolute terms, however, the reverse is true: The reality is the way ahead. Because are to learn change, must a thing worked ( put in a new state). Change and potentiality thus presuppose the existence in actu. This existence, if still mixed with potentiality, it requires a previous reality ahead - and so on until the Actus purus, the reality is without a remainder of mere possibility, is reached.

The term " pure act " goes back to Aristotle: " actus " is the Latin word for ἐνέργεια, energeia. In metaphysics XI 7, 1072b et seq Aristotle identifies the unmoved mover as pure energeia.

In Scholasticism Akt potency tenet of Aristotelian metaphysics is received and modified by Thomas Aquinas. When applied to God, this leads to its identification as a pure act:

"Deus est actus purus, non habens aliquid de potentialitate "

Nicolaus of Cusa refers to God as " actus purissimum ".

According to Leibniz, God is absolute activity which actus purus.