Latin quote · Faith
Ens causa sui
“A being that is its own cause.”
Philosophical term
Translation
What does “Ens causa sui” mean?
Ens causa sui translates as “A being that is its own cause.”
Something that depends on nothing else for its existence; in theology, a description of God.
Origin
The story behind it
A term of scholastic and early modern philosophy for a being that owes its existence to no other. Spinoza opens his Ethics with a definition of ‘causa sui’.
When to use it
Perfect for
It works as a caption, a card message, a tattoo idea, a motto for your desk or a print for your wall.
- Latin
- Ens causa sui
- English
- A being that is its own cause.
- Source
- Philosophical term
- Era
- Early Modern
- Theme
- Faith
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