Full Idea
The Modal distinction is when A is not B or a property of B, but still could not possibly exist without B.
Gist of Idea
Modal distinction: A isn't B or its property, but still needs B
Source
report of Francisco Suárez (Disputationes metaphysicae [1597], Bk VII) by Stephen Boulter - Why Medieval Philosophy Matters 4
Book Reference
Boulter,Stephen: 'Why Medieval Philosophy Matters' [Bloomsbury 2019], p.100
A Reaction
Duns Scotus proposed in, Ockham rejected it, but Suarez supports it. Suarez proposes that light's dependence on the Sun is distinct from the light itself, in this 'modal' way.