Introduction

The aims of this inquiry are threefold: (i) to present a translation–commentary of a text of ibn Sīnā which contains the structure of his entire metaphysical system. We propose to further the understanding of this system by means of a commentary, an analysis, and a glossary of the major philosophical terms using the methods of contemporary analysis; (2) to explicate and analyse this text, making explicit several issues embedded in it which (a) are central themes in ibn Sīnā’s metaphysical system and are at the same time controversial topics in the history of philosophy and (b) are significant from the contemporary point of view either with respect to their content, or to the manner in which we expose significant points about logic and philosophical analysis. Finally (3) we hope to stimulate and to further translations of philosophical texts from Persian into English.