Following al-Farabi's lead, Avicenna initiated a full-fledged inquiry into the question of being, in which he distinguished between essence (Mahiat) and existence (Wujud). He argued that the fact of existence can not be inferred from or accounted for by the essence of existing things, and that form and matter by themselves cannot interact and originate the movement of the universe or the progressive actualization of existing things. Existence must, therefore, be due to an agent-cause that necessitates, imparts, gives, or adds existence to an essence. To do so, the cause must be an existing thing and coexist with its effect. COUNT 5
QSN1 What did Avicenna start an inquiry into? ANS1 the question of being QSN2 What two points did he write about? ANS2 essence (Mahiat) and existence (Wujud) QSN3 Who also began an inquiry into the question of being? ANS3 al-Farabi QSN4 What is the Arabic term for existence? ANS4 Wujud QSN5 Mahiat is Arabic for what? ANS5 essence