«Supposed Neighbor»: The Company of Friends and Bliss

From supposition to the actuality of a hypothetical: a note on Trinitarian ontology in an article by Thomas Aquinas

Abstract

This article reconsiders Aquinas’ claim in ST I-II, q.4, a.8 that friendship contributes only to the bene esse of beatitude. By analysing the metaphysical tension of this notion and the “supposed neighbour” (supposito proximo), it argues that a trinitarian-christological ontology discloses relationality as intrinsic to eschatological beatitude. Love of neighbour thus emerges not as a mere concomitant, but as inseparably united to the perfected love of God.