aseity

[ uh-see-i-tee, ey-see- ]

noun

, Metaphysics.

1. existence originating from and having no source other than itself.

aseity

/ eɪˈsiːɪtɪ /

noun

1. philosophy existence derived from itself, having no other source

Word History and Origins

Origin of aseity¹

1685–95; < Medieval Latin asēitās, equivalent to Latin ā sē from oneself + -itās -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of aseity¹

C17: from Medieval Latin aseitas, from Latin ā from + sē oneself

More About Aseity

What does aseity mean?

An aseity is the existence of something that has no source outside of itself or that has always existed with no creation.

Aseity is a philosophical term often used in relation to religion, myth, and creation stories. Many religions have stories detailing how the universe was first created, often by a being or force with aseity. In other words, a being or force that created itself through its own will or that always existed created the world.

Example: Thinking of a god with aseity always makes me feel insignificant.

Where does aseity come from?

The first records of the term aseity come from around the 1680s. It comes from the Medieval Latin asēitās meaning “being from oneself.”

Some of the first uses of aseity in discussions of religion come from Aurelius Augustinus, known in Christianity as Saint Augustine. Augustine based much of his writing about the Christian God on Neoplatonism, a field of philosophy that suggests that all things are connected to a supreme being known as the One. Augustine suggested that the Christian God was the One and that he was the only being to have true aseity. While other religions had held similar beliefs, Augustine was one of the first to describe their god as having aseity.

Did you know ... ?

What are some words that often get used in discussing aseity?

• metaphysics
• origin
• creation
• doctrine
• existence
• religion
• source

How is aseity used in real life?

Aseity is almost always used in discussions of religion and metaphysics, particularly in reference to deities or complex philosophical problems.

The doctrine of aseity humbles man. —Sinclair Ferguson #ligcon

— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) March 15, 2019

Listened to a talk this morning about abstract objects & how they relate to God's aseity–
too early for that kind of thinking-
brain pain.

— Nathan Cochran (@nathancochran) October 4, 2013

Ah yes, I see a new book here on creation as sacrament. Also swell & dandy is mission as incarnation. Also hospitality as perichoresis. Also baptism as creatio ex nihilo. Also providence as indwelling, rebirth as aseity, & all the theology words as all the other theology words.

— Fred Sanders (@FredFredSanders) June 28, 2019

Updated on February 27, 2023

Try using aseity!

Is aseity used correctly in the following sentence?

“If God has aseity, then he depends on human belief to exist.”