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
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Religious Studies
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Kayhan Özaykal
0000-0003-0243-5625
Türkiye
Publication Date
June 15, 2018
Submission Date
December 3, 2017
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2018 Volume: 29 Number: 1