In daily life, “What is this?” may only ask for an object’s name or use; a child might answer “a pen.” In formal logic, however, mā huwa is a technical request about essence. Judge the answer using the book’s framework of essence, genus and differentia, not every ordinary use of a similar-sounding question.
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Not every ordinary “what is it?” is technical mā huwa
Mā Huwa: Asking What a Thing Is
In daily life, “What is this?” may only ask for an object’s name or use; a child might answer “a pen.” In formal logic, however, mā huwa is a technical request about essence. Judge the answer using the book’s framework of essence, genus and differentia, not every ordinary use of a similar-sounding question.