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 Author

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.