Doubt about とは in this sentence


From Naruto chapter 670,

[![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/xiYFX.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/xiYFX.jpg)

I have doubts about とは in this sentence

> 言葉の探求一般、学問全般 **とは** あいまいなものであり

I wonder if this と is used for comparison. 言葉の探求 is あいまいなもの compared to 学問全般?

