History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps HoP 177 - To Be or Not to Be - Debating Avicenna’s Metaphysics
May 24, 2014
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Imaginary Sister Frames The Question
- Peter Adamsen jokes about his 'non-existent' trapeze-artist sister to introduce metaphysical questions about existence.
- He uses her as an example to ask whether non-existent people can have metaphysical status.
Essence Versus Existence Explained
- Avicenna distinguishes essence (what a thing is) from existence (that it is).
- He holds essences can be mental without concrete existence, while God's essence is existence itself.
Theological Roots Of The Debate
- Avicenna's distinction responds to a theological debate about whether non-existent things are 'things'.
- He navigates between Mu'tazilite and Ash'arite views by positing mental existence for essences.