"Provides a broad defense of existential Thomism, while at the same time showing its fruits for natural theology and the interpretation of Aquinas's writings. Knasas writes like an academic pro. His style is clear, even when dealing with highly technical subjects. And his voice is appropriately formal, while remaining engaging."?James D. Madden, author of Mind, Matter, and Nature: A Thomistic Proposal for the Philosophy of Mind "The Existential Thomism of Gilson and Maritain lives on in Knasas's erudite account of the arguments for the existence of God. Knasas provides a comprehensive overview of the contemporary debates surrounding the proofs for God while taking on all challengers."?Christopher Cullen, SJ, Fordham University "It has long been apparent that Professor Knasas is one of the most important philosophers working today.

This book puts a seal on this judgment. An immensely creative and constructive defense of existential Thomism and the Thomistic proofs of God's existence, passing through Leibniz, Kant, Heidegger, analytic Thomists of various stripes, and a wide swath of Aquinas's corpus. Knasas is a philosopher for anyone who cares about the 'big issues.'"?Matthew Levering, James N. and Mary D. Perry Jr. Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary "In the mid-twentieth century, there appeared an approach to Thomistic metaphysics called 'existential Thomism,' focusing on the esse of things, and on the intellect's grasp of esse in its judgments. Among the notable existential Thomists were Etienne Gilson and Gilson's student Joseph Owens.

The present book, by Owens's student, John Knasas, performs the important service of showing the continuing vitality of existential Thomism and its relevance to current discussion of the so-called cosmological argument."?Kevin White, The Catholic University of America "A profound expression of an imaginative hermeneutic, and a testament to the vitality of Thomistic scholars contending with each other in response to the challenges of modern philosophy."? Thomist "In most of academia, as the saying goes, the fights are so vicious because the stakes are so small. I am convinced that the opposite is true in the realm of Thomism, and Knasas bears this out. The fights are so pleasant because the stakes are incomparably great."? Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies.