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Avicenna's Doctrine Of Essence

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Avicenna created a doctrine that discussed the real distinction between essence and existence. Avicenna’s concludes that existence is accidental to essence and he believed that essence was a priority over esse. In Avicenna’s reasoning essence exists in two different ways of being. First, essence can exist in reality as a concrete, singular instance. For example, a dog can exist in reality through the essence of Lassie the dog. Second, essence can exist through the mind as a universal. For example, a dog can exist in through the mind by thinking the general meaning of the word dog. Essence can Be and Be Known because it is self-same meaning that it can exist in both ways of being. A dog doesn’t necessary have to exist in “reality” to get essence in the mind and it doesn’t have to be a real dog to get the understand of a dog. Essence doesn’t have to exist in either way because it can exist in both. For example, if to be a dog it has to exist as part of nature then it can not exist in the mind or a singular instance. Another example, if to be a dog it has to have universal existence as part of nature then a dog can not exist in any singular instance. This causes a real distinction between nature and existence. Avicenna believes that essence is a priority over existence. As stated essence can be a single reality, and it can be universal in the mind but essence in itself is neither singular or universal. Essence in itself is essence in its pure state of being Naked Nature.

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