The Arabian Philosophers

AVICENNA(980-1037)

Life and Death

o Abu Ali al-Husayn Ibn Abd Allan Ibn Sina (son of a servant)
Abu-father of a child
Ali-all high
Al- family
Ibn-son of
Abd-servant
o Born in Afshona on 980 near Bukhara in Central Asia.
(Uzbekistan)
o Most significant philosopher in Islamic tradition; most
influential philosopher in Pre-modern Era.
o He is a polymath ( a person who has expertise in different
areas).
o Persian physician and philosopher who worked during the socalled Islamic Golden Age.
Mother- Setareh
Father- Abdullah(servant of God)
- A high official under the Samanid dynasty from
Ancient City of Balkh (Afghanistan)
o He was educated in Bukhara and established himself as a
respected physician at the age of 16. He also dedicated much
of his time to study physics, natural sciences and
metaphysics.

Introduction to Philosophy

Llantos, Renier Mark N. Bsed 3B

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The Arabian Philosophers

Nun Ibn Mansur

-Bukharas ruler (emir) who hired him as physician in 997
and give access to his royal library that was considered one
of the best kinds in the medieval world.
o His fathers death and political turmoil in 1002 forced
Avicenna to Urganj(Konye-Urgench)but he soon moved to Gorjan
in todays Iran where he started working on the Canon of
Medicine. (his famous work)
o He died from severe colic in June 1037, aged only 58.
Field of Interests
o Astronomy, alchemy, geography, geology, psychology, Islamic
theology (kalaam), logic, mathematics, physics and poetry.
Philosophy and Works
o Avicennas philosophy dealt with some of the most fundamental
questions including the origin of cosmos (ordered system of
the universe), the role of God in the human existence and
the universe, and divine interaction with humans and other
created beings.
o Some of his best works are: Book of Salvation, The Canon of
Medicine, Book of Healing, Divine wisdom, Book of Sum and
Substance, Philosophy for the Prosodists, Book of Virtue and
Sin.
o Canon of Medicine (Al-Qanun)- encyclopedia of medicine in
five books which presents the idea of comtemporary medicine
knowledge influence by Galen.
o The Book of Healing (Al-Shifa)- also called The Cure is
intended to cure or heal ignorance of the soul;
influenced by Aristotle and different Hellenistic thinkers.
It is divided into four parts: logic, natural sciences,
mathematics and metaphysics.
Symptoms are obtained through physical examination of the
body at certain moments,
There are some visible one such as jaundice and oedema,
There are some perceptible to the ear such aas gurgling or
abdomen dropsy,
The foul odour strikes at the sense of smell; for example
that of purulent ulcers,
Introduction to Philosophy

Llantos, Renier Mark N. Bsed 3B

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The Arabian Philosophers

There are some accessible to taste such as the acidity of
the mouth,
Touch recognizes certain ones; the frmness of cancer.
-FromThe Role of Ibn Sina(Avicenna)s
Rabie El-Said Abdel-Halim

Medical

Poem

by

o Avecinism- a school in islamic Philosophy which established

by Aviceenna. According to Henry Corbin and Seyyed Hossein
Nasr there are two kinds of Avicennism:
-Islamic or Iranian Avicennism
- Latin Avicennism
o Avicennan metaphysics became the foundation for discussions
of islamic philosophy and phylosophical theory.
o According to Avicenna:
Medicine considers the human body as to the means by
which it is cured and by which driven away from
health.
The knowledge of anything, since all things have
causes, is not acquired or complete unless it is known
by its causes.
There are no incurable diseases only lack of will.
There are no worthless herbs only the lack of
knowledge.
Therefore in medicine we ought to know the causes of
sickness and health.
REFERENCE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Healing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canon_of_Medicine
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Avicenna
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avicenna
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avicenna
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_name

Introduction to Philosophy

Llantos, Renier Mark N. Bsed 3B

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