The Influence of Ibn Sina on the Ontology of Duns Scotus

Explanation of Inb Sina’s influence on the thoughts of Scotus and comparison of the views of these two thinkers in discussions about ontology is one the necessary steps in reading again the scholastic philosophy of Scotus and requisites of understanding the place of Ibn Sina’s philosophical thinking. Despite the fact that both thinkers in the extension of their philosophical thinking somehow have been under the influence of Aristotle and prepatetic tradition and naturally there are many similarities in the ideas of these two thinkers, but there are also differences between them which can be proposed and investigated. In this regard there is a logical ground to compare the ideas of these two thinkers. Of course, it should be noted that in any case Scotus has been thinking in the climate of Christian thought while the basis of Ibn Sina’s thinking is Islamic foundations and this difference of climate and culture should always be taken into account in any comparison, so that sometimes some religious and theological motives and incentives shows its influence in ontological discussion of Scotus. Scotus in ontological discussions such as considering “Existent” as the principal subject of metaphysic and using the similar reasons in proving this claim, attention to primary and secondary concepts, attributes of existent, not considering existents “genus” of existents, univocity of the concept of existent and considering analogical gradation or degrees of intensity and weakness in the nature of existent and finally distinction of being and quiddity is completely under the influence of Ibn Sina.