aseity

From Medieval Latin aseitas (“state of being by itself”), from Classical Latin a se + -itas.

• enPR: ə-sēˈ-ĭ-tē; IPA^(key): /əˈsiː.ɪ.ti/

aseity (countable and uncountable, plural aseities)

1. (metaphysics, theology) Usually ascribed to deity: the attribute of being entirely self-derived, in contrast to being derived from or dependent on another; the quality of having within oneself the entire reason for one's being; utter independent self-existence and self-sustenance.

   Antonyms: contingency, createdness, dependence, derivedness

   • 1902, William James, “Lecture XVIII: Philosophy”, in The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature […] , New York, N.Y.; London: Longmans, Green, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 439:

     He is Spiritual, for were He composed of physical parts, some other power would have to combine them into the total, and his aseity would thus be contradicted.

• aseitous

• eternality
• existence