Metaphysics and Evolution: A Response to Dennis F. Polis

Abstract

This paper is a response to Dennis F. Polis’s article “The Compatibility of Evolution and Classical Metaphysics” (2020), which offered a critique of the author’s article “Classical Metaphysics and Theistic Evolution: Why Are They Incompatible?” (2019). In order to justify and maintain his objections to the compatibility of classical metaphysics and theistic evolution, the author concentrates on three problems: (1) the definition of evolution, (2) the Aristotelian-Thomistic understanding of substance, and (3) the clarification of why Dr. Polis’s responses to his arguments fail.

Keywords

• thomism
• metaphysics
• evolution
• evolutionism
• god
• creation
• form
• matter
• substance
• accident
• change