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Avicenna on the Ontology of Pure Quiddity
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2020
About this book
This study focuses on the metaphysics of the great Arabic philosopher Avicenna (or Ibn Sīnā, d. 1037 C.E.). More specifically, it delves into Avicenna’s theory of quiddity or essence, a topic which seized the attention of thinkers both during the medieval and modern periods. Building on recent contributions in Avicennian studies, this book proposes a new and comprehensive interpretation of Avicenna’s theory of ‘the pure quiddity’ (also known as ‘the quiddity in itself’) and of its ontology. The study provides a careful philological analysis of key passages gleaned from the primary sources in Arabic and a close philosophical contextualization of Avicenna’s doctrines in light of the legacy of ancient Greek philosophy in Islam and the early development of Arabic philosophy (falsafah) and theology (kalām). The study pays particular attention to how Avicenna’s theory of quiddity relates to the ancient Greek philosophical discussion about the universals or common things and Mu’tazilite ontology. Its main thesis is that Avicenna articulated a sophisticated doctrine of the ontology of essence in light of Greek and Bahshamite sources, which decisively shaped subsequent intellectual history in Islam and the Latin West.
Author / Editor information
Damien Janos, University of Montreal, Canada.
Topics
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Frontmatter
I -
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Acknowledgements
VII -
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Contents
IX -
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Introduction
1 -
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Chapter I: Pure Quiddity in Context
19 -
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Chapter II: Quiddity in Itself and Mental Existence
79 -
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Chapter III: Quiddity in Itself in the Concrete World
265 -
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Chapter IV: The Special Ontological Mode of Quiddity in Itself
424 -
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Chapter V: The Divine Origin of Pure Quiddity
631 -
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Conclusion
716 -
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Appendix 1: The Avicennian terminology of pure quiddity
723 -
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Appendix 2: The existence of pure quiddity: A list of textual references
725 -
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Appendix 3: Quiddity and Avicenna’s matrices of distinctions
727 -
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Bibliography
728 -
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Index of Names and Places
747 -
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Index of Technical Terms
749
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
May 5, 2020
eBook ISBN:
9783110652086
Hardcover published on:
April 20, 2020
Hardcover ISBN:
9783110635980
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Front matter:
12
Main content:
762
Line drawings:
6
Tables:
2
Keywords for this book
Avicenna; Islamic Philosophy; Medieval Philosophy; History of Metaphysics; essence/quiddity
Audience(s) for this book
Wissenschaftler, Institute, Bibliotheken
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Manufacturer information:
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Genthiner Straße 13
10785 Berlin
productsafety@degruyterbrill.com
