Abstract

The panel discussion will explore the distinction between essence and existence from Antiquity (especially Aristotle) through to the twentieth century (in e.g. French existentialism).

Questions of translation and transmission will also be considered, honing philosophical traditions in Ancient Greek, Latin, Persian, classical Arabic and French.

Dr Daniel De Haan (Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge) will situate Avicenna, briefly, with respect to the differences between his and al-Fārābī’s interpretations of Aristotle on essence and existence.

Prof. John Marenbon (Faculty of Philosophy, Cambridge) will address the debate in the context of the later thirteenth/early fourteenth-century Latin philosophy, and relate this to the work of Avicenna.

Dr Dragos Calma (Faculty of Philosophy, Cambridge) will be speaking about the late Albertists and Thomists in the fifteenth century.

Dr Martin Crowley (French Department, Cambridge) will be looking at aspects of the thought of Jean-Paul Sartre and Bruno Latour, discussing their respective refusals of the notion of essence, and connecting this to their understanding of identity as performative.

Each speaker will give a concise presentation. This will be followed by a moderated panel discussion and Q&A.