Similarity or Gradation of the Concept of Existence: A Comparison of the Ideas of Aristotle and Ibn Sina on the Problem of the Meaning of Being

Hosseini, Ahmad; Akbarian, Reza

doi:10.30497/ap.2012.39463

Similarity or Gradation of the Concept of Existence: A Comparison of the Ideas of Aristotle and Ibn Sina on the Problem of the Meaning of Being

Authors

Ahmad Hosseini ¹
Reza Akbarian ²

¹ Associate Professor of Philosophy at Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University

² professor, Tarbiat Modares University,Tehran, Iran

10.30497/ap.2012.39463

Abstract

In this paper the views of Aristotle and Ibn Sina has been investigated.
For Aristotle, existent has different meanings, but not by way of
homonymy.
Besides homonymy and univocity, Aristotle presents a third view
which he calls it a relation “in regard to”. By contrast, Ibn Sina regards
existent by homonymy; however he believes that the existents are in a
gradational relation that have intensity and weakness and priority and
non – priority.
Discussion about the meaning of existence in ontological debates and
especially in theory of causality in each of these two is worth
considering. Aristotle does not regard existence as a distinct metaphisical
element but for him existence immediately divides into categories, yet for
Ibn Sina existence is a distinct reality from quiddity that is inherent in all
existents as a philosophical element. In the same way, Aristotle considers
the causality of God of the kind of theological causality, so that every
existent in an independent direction is moving towards the first mover,
where as Ibn Sina regards God as the efficient and generative cause who
confers a common element, that is, existence to all existents.
In this paper the views of Aristotle and Ibn Sina has been investigated.For Aristotle, existent has different meanings, but not by way ofhomonymy.Besides homonymy and univocity, Aristotle presents a third viewwhich he calls it a relation “in regard to”. By contrast, Ibn Sina regardsexistent by homonymy; however he believes that the existents are in agradational relation that have intensity and weakness and priority andnon – priority.Discussion about the meaning of existence in ontological debates andespecially in theory of causality in each of these two is worthconsidering. Aristotle does not regard existence as a distinct metaphisicalelement but for him existence immediately divides into categories, yet forIbn Sina existence is a distinct reality from quiddity that is inherent in allexistents as a philosophical element. In the same way, Aristotle considersthe causality of God of the kind of theological causality, so that everyexistent in an independent direction is moving towards the first mover,where as Ibn Sina regards God as the efficient and generative cause whoconfers a common element, that is, existence to all existents.

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