On The First being a Pure Actuality

The First is either a Pure Actuality, a Pure Potentiality or Partly Actual & Partly Potential; but that which is a pure potentiality without any actuality, apart from the actuality of being a pure potentiality, is nothing concrete in reality; such a substance is dependent upon an extraneous factor, namely the Active Intellect for its concrete realization; the Active Intellect in conjunction with Form, imparts actuality upon Prime Matter or hyle, thereby causing it to exist; a pure potentiality is thus, dependent upon another for the derivation of its existence, and is therefore, necessary through another with respect to existence; and that which is necessary through another with respect to existence, is only contingent in itself and thus, cannot simultaneously, be Necessary in Itself, as that would lead to a conjunction of contradictories; but The First is Necessary in Itself; it therefore follows, that The First cannot be a pure potentiality.

That which is partly actual and partly potential, is a composite of actuality and potentiality; the aspect of potentiality, is the aspect of its matter, which is defined as a substance that bears the potential for an incoming form or forms, whereas the aspect of actuality, is the aspect of its present Form; hence, everything that is partly actual and partly potential, is a composite of matter and form; this is in accordance with Aristotle’s doctrine of hylomorphism as discussed by him in his Metaphysics; but every composite is dependent upon its parts for its concrete subsistence, and is therefore, necessary through another; now that which is necessary through another, is in itself only contingent in essence, and thus, cannot simultaneously, be Necessary in Itself, as has been discussed above; hence, a composite of actuality and potentiality, cannot be a Necessary Existent; but The First is a Necessary Existent; it therefore follows, that The First is not a composite of actuality and potentiality.

Matter and Form are both mutually dependent upon one another, and dependence is a concomitant of contingency; thus, both matter and form are contingent in essence; now that which is partly actual and partly potential, is a composite of matter and form, and is therefore, dependent upon these parts for its concrete subsistence; but that which depends upon something contingent for its subsistence, is itself also contingent in essence; hence, a composite of actuality and potentiality, by reason of its dependence upon its contingent parts, for its subsistence, would itself be contingent in essence; but The First is a Necessary Existent, and hence, cannot be a composite of actuality and potentiality. The First is thus, a Pure Actuality, without any blemish or trace of potentiality and possibility. Being a Pure Actuality entails that The First is an Absolute Good and the Most Perfect of all realities, since, every good or perfection, that is appropriate to and in keeping with, its Sublime Reality, is actually present in its Essence.