An Analysis of Al-Farabi's Conception of Being

Abstract

This study is an examination of Al-Farabi's conception of being, as well as his categories of essence and existence. The paper traces his background, influence, and identified factors that underpin his argument on the conception of being. Despite the influence of Aristotle on his discourse, the concept being is spread all over his works, most of which were translated from Arabic to English. The starting point in his discourse on the concept of reality is found in his conception of human nature, according to which human nature is not harmonious but variegated depending on the individuals. In an attempt to justify the variegated nature of the individuals, Al-Farabi failed to offer coherent arguments to justify his position. He rather defended the thesis of the disparity in the essence of human nature and the individuals. The implication here is that rather than defending his arguments of the variegated nature of the individuals, he rather introduced and support the differences of the being, essence and existence. Being he contends cannot be in isolation and that it can only be actualized in conjunction with the divine. To buttress his point Al-Farabi examines the concept of happiness in other to establish or justify the link between being, essence and existence. The paper, therefore, highlights the major issues raised in his conception of being vis-a-vis his notion of happiness as linked to essence and existence. The paper concludes that Al-Farabi's conception of reality is rather lost in his attempt at explicating his notion of being, essence and existence.