Sunday, March 29, 2020

Avicenna's Course Handout 05 (Metaphysics)

Outline


1.    Metaphysics
a.     Its subject: Aristotelian Dilemma: Being qua being or first causes?  
                                                             i.      Avicenna: let the subject be: being qua being and its immediate properties like: unity/plurality; cause or effect;
1.    This way we’ll have all the necessary topics and goals we expect from Metaphysics covered, and
2.    We also discuss about “first cause” when we discuss certain divisions of being qua being, like the necessary being, or the eternal being
b.    Its goal and benefit: determination of the realities of all things, inasmuch as that is possible for a human being.
1.    True knowledge (what, if it exists and why does it exist)
2.    Comprehensive knowledge (of everything) so that man turns to little cosmos corresponding to the greater cosmos
                                                           ii.      Foundations of other sciences
                                                         iii.      Theology
                                                         iv.      Angiology
                                                           v.      Mechanics (motion of heavenly bodies)
c.     Its methodology
                                                             i.      Avicennian innovation in methodology: thought experiment

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