On the well-known history of the problem of primacy of existence

Within the contemporary literature, there is a well-known narration of the history of the problem of primacy of existence according to which Ibn Sina, Suhrawardi and Sadra plays the leading roles and Mirdamad has the supporting role: Ibn Sina introduces the supper-addition of existence to the essence in mind; Suhrawardi denies that this distinction is in reality; Mirdamad reconstruct this problem as to whether existence or essence is primarily exist; and finally, Sadra introduces the thesis of primacy of existence. We will argue that all these historical data is incorrect. First, it was historically controversial whether Ibn Sina's distinction between existence and essence was something in reality or purely in mind. Second, after Ibn Sina there was a vast debate on this problem among the followers of the peripatetic philosophers and their opponents. Third, Suhrawardi is just one of the enemies of the followers of the peripatetic philosophers who argue against the distinction of existence and essence in reality. Forth, the only text based on which the introduction of the problem of the primacy of existence is ascribed to Mirdamad is not Mirdamad's. Fifth, Mirdamad and Sadra actually engaged in the traditional problem of the distinction of existence and essence in reality.