Final answer:
In the broadest sense, 'beings' can encompass any entities that exist, including tables, chairs, rivers, and rocks; however, philosophical discourse often distinguishes 'beings' based on consciousness, purpose, and permanence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The philosophical concept of 'beings' implies entities that have some sort of existence, whether they are animate or inanimate. In the broadest sense, the term beings can refer to anything that exists, which would include tables, chairs, rivers, and rocks.
However, in philosophical discourse, especially concerning the existence of the soul or the nature of reality, 'beings' are often distinguished from mere materials or objects. Philosophers have debated the concept of what truly constitutes a being, with considerations of qualities like consciousness, purpose, and permanence.
Plato's conception of reality and forms, as well as the distinctions between eternal being and transient existence, play a significant role in understanding this concept. Contingent existences like animals, plants, rivers, or mountains are not considered to have the eternal, unchanging character of true beings, according to some philosophical traditions.