This concept can be discussed analogously between God and creation, even though the meanings are different, according to a view often traced to Aquinas. Ahmad Sirhindi emphasized the “unity of witness” over a unity of this concept put forward by Ibn Arabi. A thing that has this concept necessarily rather than contingently is derived via infinite regress in Avicenna’s Proof of the Truthful. An intellectual history by Arthur Lovejoy is titled for a schema of this concept that ranges from God to minerals. Duns Scotus conceived of a “univocity” of this concept, which medieval philosophers placed on a “great chain.” Many Islamic thinkers commented on Aristotle’s treatise on “[this concept] qua [this concept],” his Metaphysics. For 10 points, name this concept whose nature is studied in ontology. ■END■
ANSWER: being [or wujūd; accept existence or word forms; accept great chain of being; accept being qua being; accept ens or analogia entis]
<TM, Philosophy>
= Average correct buzz position