Philosophical Thought

Nasir al-Din al-Tusi’s View on the Distinction Between Existence and Essence

Document Type : Original Research

Author

V. Khademzadeh

Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.58209/jpt.6.2.251
Abstract
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.

Keywords

Existence
Essence
attribution
Separation
Ibn Sina
Subjects
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Philosophical Thought
Volume 6, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 251-267

  • Receive Date 10 January 2026
  • Revise Date 23 May 2026
  • Accept Date 12 July 2026
  • Publish Date 21 April 2026