subsistent
1
9.9
- adjective
- /səbˈsɪstənt/
- Formal
- If someone tells me that the human soul is naturally subsistent, then I know what they mean.
- self-subsistent
Examples
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Initially, the transcendent ideas were conceived as self-subsistent things upon which we gazed.
Academic text (1995) -
Things could not exist even for an instant unless there were something which, as subsistent being itself, could cause their existence without having to be caused itself.
Blog text (16) -
Therefore, to have an operation on its own means simply that there is a subsistent thing that is the sole source of its operation.
Academic text (2017) -
When the classical theist says that God is pure actuality, subsistent being itself, and absolutely simple, what he is saying is precisely that none of the explanations of common sense or science could, in principle, count as genuine explanations at all unless there is a cause of the world that is like this.
Blog text (16) -
By contrast, whatever is not metaphysically simple, or pure actuality, or subsistent being itself, would—however otherwise impressive in its strength, knowledge, or moral qualities—be less than ultimate and would thus require an explanation outside itself.
Blog text (16) -
Many philosophers argue that the essence of reality must include at least one subsistent being that exists independently of everything else.
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In philosophical discussions, a subsistent entity is often considered the foundation upon which all other beings depend.
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The concept of a subsistent existence is crucial when exploring theories of being and independence in metaphysics.
Synonyms
25
4.3
Complete and independent without needing anything else to work
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Subsistent comes from Latin parts sub- 'under' and sistere 'to stand', and is related to the English word subsist, meaning 'to exist'. Think of something that 'stands on its own', so subsistent describes something that exists independently.