Avicenna on the Faculties of the Soul : A Critical Analysis with an Examination of Faḫr al-Dīn al-Rāzī’s Criticisms
Abstract
This article examines Avicenna’s responses to three questions regarding the soul: (1) Why does the soul require faculties? (2) Why are the soul’s faculties multiple? (3) What is the criterion for their multiplicity? Avicenna uses the rule of one and the soul’s simplicity to explain these questions, introducing multiple faculties to resolve the paradox of the soul performing various actions. He argues that the diversity of faculties is due to the generic difference between actions. Faḫr al-Dīn al-Rāzī raises four objections to Avicenna’s explanation. This paper also scrutinizes al-Rāzī’s objections to understand Avicenna’s theory better.
Main Authors
Format
Articles
Research article
Published
2024
Series
Subjects
Publication in research information system
Publisher
Brill
The permanent address of the publication
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202410246519Use this for linking
Review status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0078-6527
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1163/18778372-12340034
Language
English
Published in
Oriens : Journal of Philosophy, Theology and Science in Islamic Societies
Citation
- Amirkhani, S., & Varzdar, K. (2024). Avicenna on the Faculties of the Soul : A Critical Analysis with an Examination of Faḫr al-Dīn al-Rāzī’s Criticisms. Oriens : Journal of Philosophy, Theology and Science in Islamic Societies, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1163/18778372-12340034
License
Copyright© Sajad Amirkhani and Keramat Varzdar, 2024