Conoscere l'essere. Fabro, Gilson e la conoscenza dell'actus essendi

The author analyses the interpretations of the knowledge of actus essendi from a Thomistic point of view given by Cornelio Fabro and Étienne Gilson. The two philosophers share a common background in their refusal of essentialism and in their defense of a real distinction between actus essendi and essentia. However, Gilson confuses actus essendi with existentia, whereas Fabro gives a more perspicuous interpretation of actus essendi. Yet Gilson's analysis of existential judgement seems to provide a good proof to the thesis of real distinction and can be conciliated with Fabro's interpretation.