Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) Philosophical Thought 1973-2873 6 2 2026 04 21 Nasir al-Din al-Tusi’s View on the Distinction Between Existence and Essence Nasir al-Din al-Tusi’s View on the Distinction Between Existence and Essence 251 267 28988 10.58209/jpt.6.2.251 FA V. Khademzadeh Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran 0009-0007-2995-1298 Journal Article 2026 01 10 The distinction between existence and essence is often presented as the distinguishing feature of Farabi and Avicenna's philosophy compared with Aristotelian philosophy. However, commentators and researchers have long contested how to interpret this principle. Some believe existence and essence have a real, metaphysical distinction, while others see their distinction as merely a product of mental abstraction and analysis. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, in his response to Fakhr al-Din al-Razi's objections, asserts that the attribution of existence to essence is solely a result of mental analysis. A careful examination of Tusi's statements in the Fourth Namat of Isharat wa Tanbihat reveals that, in various contexts, his words seem to imply an external distinction between existence and essence, and perhaps even the separation and precedence of essence over existence. However, potential solutions can reconcile the various claims and statements made by Tusi. The distinction between existence and essence is often presented as the distinguishing feature of Farabi and Avicenna's philosophy compared with Aristotelian philosophy. However, commentators and researchers have long contested how to interpret this principle. Some believe existence and essence have a real, metaphysical distinction, while others see their distinction as merely a product of mental abstraction and analysis. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, in his response to Fakhr al-Din al-Razi's objections, asserts that the attribution of existence to essence is solely a result of mental analysis. A careful examination of Tusi's statements in the Fourth Namat of Isharat wa Tanbihat reveals that, in various contexts, his words seem to imply an external distinction between existence and essence, and perhaps even the separation and precedence of essence over existence. However, potential solutions can reconcile the various claims and statements made by Tusi. https://jpt.modares.ac.ir/article_28988_a0d26bf79de52c1ebbcb63c52542825f.pdf