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Individual Essences in Avicenna’s Metaphysics
Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- 1 Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Open Journal of Philosophy·Volume 04 (2014)·Pages 16–21·Published 26 January 2014·DOI10.4236/ojpp.2014.41004
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Abstract
Central to Aristotle’s metaphysics is the question of individuality. The individuality of each substance is explained in relation to “ matter ” because the “ form ” is universal. Avicenna, as one of the Aristotelian Neoplatonist philosophers, is not content with this explanation and proposes to establish individuality on other grounds. In this paper, I argue that in his perspective it is not the “ matter ” which determines individuality but rather the principle of existence.
KeywordsEssenceExistenceFormMatterSubstanceUniversalParticularIndividual EssenceNecessary ExistencePossible Existents and Metaphysics
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