Research Article

Deconstruction of Ibn Sīnā’s Essence-Existence Distinction and the Essence of the Necessary Existent

Volume: 29 Number: 1 June 15, 2018
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Deconstruction of Ibn Sīnā’s Essence-Existence Distinction and the Essence of the Necessary Existent

Abstract

Ibn Sīnā’s establishment of the distinction between essence and existence in line with certain epistemological considerations led him to advance the novel idea of an essence-in-itself. This is distinguished from universal and particular essences in order to provide a bridge between logic and science that will ground the validity and, indeed, possibility of knowledge. However, this same concept poses a number of problems regarding Ibn Sīnā’s famous identification of the Necessary Existent. Among other things, Ibn Sīnā’s intriguing hesitation on whether to grant the Necessary Existent an essence or not has split commentators vis-à-vis essentialist and existentialist readings of his metaphysics. This paper argues that neither position is correct as the problems associated with the Necessary Existent are inherently intractable from within the current framework. Rather, upon deconstructive criticism and consequent revisions of Ibn Sīnā’s concept of the essence-in-itself, a resolution to the matter of the Necessary Existent is permitted while maintaining the bridge between logic and science. 

Keywords

References

  1. Adamson, Peter. “Before Essence and Existence: al-Kindi's Conception of Being.” Journal of the History of Philosophy 40, no. 3 (2002): 297-312.
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  7. Burrell, David. “Aquinas and Islamic and Jewish Thinkers.” In The Cambridge Companion to Aquinas, edited by N. Kretzmann and E. Stump, 60-84. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993.
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Religious Studies

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 15, 2018

Submission Date

December 3, 2017

Acceptance Date

-

Published in Issue

Year 2018 Volume: 29 Number: 1

APA
Özaykal, K. (2018). Deconstruction of Ibn Sīnā’s Essence-Existence Distinction and the Essence of the Necessary Existent. Journal of Istanbul University Faculty of Theology, 29(1), 25-48. https://izlik.org/JA88LT98DS
AMA
1.Özaykal K. Deconstruction of Ibn Sīnā’s Essence-Existence Distinction and the Essence of the Necessary Existent. Journal of Istanbul University Faculty of Theology. 2018;29(1):25-48. https://izlik.org/JA88LT98DS
Chicago
Özaykal, Kayhan. 2018. “Deconstruction of Ibn Sīnā’s Essence-Existence Distinction and the Essence of the Necessary Existent”. Journal of Istanbul University Faculty of Theology 29 (1): 25-48. https://izlik.org/JA88LT98DS.
EndNote
Özaykal K (June 1, 2018) Deconstruction of Ibn Sīnā’s Essence-Existence Distinction and the Essence of the Necessary Existent. Journal of Istanbul University Faculty of Theology 29 1 25–48.
IEEE
[1]K. Özaykal, “Deconstruction of Ibn Sīnā’s Essence-Existence Distinction and the Essence of the Necessary Existent”, Journal of Istanbul University Faculty of Theology, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 25–48, June 2018, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA88LT98DS
ISNAD
Özaykal, Kayhan. “Deconstruction of Ibn Sīnā’s Essence-Existence Distinction and the Essence of the Necessary Existent”. Journal of Istanbul University Faculty of Theology 29/1 (June 1, 2018): 25-48. https://izlik.org/JA88LT98DS.
JAMA
1.Özaykal K. Deconstruction of Ibn Sīnā’s Essence-Existence Distinction and the Essence of the Necessary Existent. Journal of Istanbul University Faculty of Theology. 2018;29:25–48.
MLA
Özaykal, Kayhan. “Deconstruction of Ibn Sīnā’s Essence-Existence Distinction and the Essence of the Necessary Existent”. Journal of Istanbul University Faculty of Theology, vol. 29, no. 1, June 2018, pp. 25-48, https://izlik.org/JA88LT98DS.
Vancouver
1.Kayhan Özaykal. Deconstruction of Ibn Sīnā’s Essence-Existence Distinction and the Essence of the Necessary Existent. Journal of Istanbul University Faculty of Theology [Internet]. 2018 Jun. 1;29(1):25-48. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA88LT98DS