Abstract:

Accordingly, Plato, defining metaphysics as achieving knowledge of the unchanging, placed this theory at the center of his philosophy. Although according to Plato the distinction between the changeable and unchangeable is true, the place of “ideal being” is the essential in the theory. Aristotle accepts the idea of a non-moving mover, but he places being at the center of metaphysics. Therefore, he finds his teacher’s classification of the dual world unsatisfactory and criticizes the theory of forms. He laid the foundations of the distinction between being and quiddity and tried to explain the change over the distinction between matter and form. On the other hand, Ibn Sînâ opposed the theory over the distinction between being and quiddity. According to him, the quiddities are not discrete existents as having existence in themselves. The two philosophers' attitudes towards the theory also depend on their views on the real subject of metaphysics. Accordingly, Plato has determined the subject of metaphysics as the invisible and unchanging things. Aristotle, on the other hand, managed to overcome his teacher by examining “being qua being” but fell backwards by identifying substance with being. Ibn Sīnā, on the other hand, replaced substance with being and decided to examine “being qua being”. This approach of him became the pinnacle of the metaphysics and the final attitude that determined the metaphysical inquiries after him.