The Problem With Avasena's Metaphysical Essence-Existence Distinction

Can we really make sense of the idea that there are not only giraffes and people, but essences which do not in themselves possess existence? It seems straightforwardly true that asking what a thing is is different from asking whether it exists. These were the issues at stake in the dispute between Sohravadi and Fakhradin Arazi. We saw when we looked at him that he was a trenchant critic of Avasena, though in this case he may actually be directing his fire more at contemporary Avasenan thinkers like Arazo.