Q&A: What is the difference between ontic and ontological?
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
What is the difference between ontic and ontological?
Question
In the language of existentialism.
Answer
Regarding the question above: the translation of “ontic” is “entity-related.” Ontology is the theory of being. Therefore, “ontological” is what belongs to the theory of being.
I did not understand what the connection is to existentialism.
In connection with Rabbi Soloveitchik, in Halakhic Man (the existentialist), on page 18 it says:
“The ontic duality becomes ontological dualism.”
Apparently it is the same word in shortened form, so I did not understand.