The Distinction of Essence and Existence in Avicenna’s Metaphysics: The Text and Its Context

Abstract

This chapter provides an analysis of a crucial issue of Avicenna's metaphysics. It discusses the state-of-the-art, the most relevant textual evidence, and the main features of Avicenna's doctrine in its context. In the Ilāhīyāt , the doctrine in question represents the core element of the more general treatment, in chapter I, 5, of the primary conceptsexistent and thing, and of their mutual relationship. The chapter discloses two further aspects in which secondary literature appears unbalanced: it too harshly portrays the distinction of essence and existence as a sort of radical separation between two items; and it is one-sided in ascribing to essence priority over existence, while also attributing to the concept of thing an analogous priority, both intensional and extensional, with regard to the concept of existent. Keywords: Ilāhīyāt ; Avicenna's metaphysics; existent

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