As a philosopher with a specialization in metaphysics, I am often engaged in discussions about the nature of existence and the fundamental questions of reality. One of the key concepts in this field is that of a "necessary being," which is a central topic in philosophical theology and ontology. Let's delve into what constitutes a necessary being in philosophy.
In philosophy, a necessary being is typically defined as a being that exists by its very nature and whose non-existence is logically impossible. This concept is pivotal in theistic arguments for the existence of God, where God is often characterized as a necessary being. The idea is that while all other beings are contingent—meaning they could exist or not exist depending on certain conditions—God's existence is not dependent on anything else. God is said to be self-existent and eternal, without beginning or end.
One of the most well-known proponents of this idea is Thomas Aquinas, a 13th-century theologian and philosopher. In his "Summa Theologica," Aquinas presents what is known as the "Five Ways" to demonstrate the existence of God, one of which is the "Argument from Necessity" or "Quodlibetal Arguments." This argument posits that there must be a being that is necessary in itself, as a cause for the existence of all contingent beings.
Aquinas's argument can be summarized in the following steps:

1. Existence of Change: He begins by observing that there is change in the world, which implies that things come into and go out of existence.

2. Contingency: He notes that everything that exists is contingent, meaning it could either exist or not exist.

3. Dependency: Contingent beings depend on something else for their existence. This leads to the question of what sustains the existence of these contingent beings.

4. Necessity of a First Cause: If everything is contingent, then there must be a being that is necessary, as it cannot be contingent on anything else. This being is the first cause or the uncaused cause.

5. Necessary Being as God: Aquinas identifies this necessary being as God, who is pure act (actus purus), meaning that God's existence is identical to God's essence, and thus God's existence is necessary.
The concept of a necessary being is not without its critics. Some philosophers argue that the very idea of a necessary being is incoherent or that it begs the question by assuming the existence of such a being without proper justification. Others challenge the logical progression from the contingency of all other beings to the necessity of a single being.
Despite these criticisms, the notion of a necessary being remains a significant and influential concept in the history of philosophy. It touches on deep questions about the nature of existence, the universe, and the ultimate source of all that is.
Now, let's proceed with the translation of the above discussion into Chinese.

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Part III. Thomas Aquinas, "The Argument from Necessity" Abstract: Thomas' Argument from Necessity is outlined and explained. He argues that since all existent things depend upon other things for their existence, there must exist at least one thing that is a Necessary Being.read more >>