Avicenna’s Cosmological Argument; Independent from Infinite Regress, in Need for quiddity

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MA. Student at Tehran university Farabi branch

2 Head of philosophy of religion department Tehran university Farabi branch

Abstract

One of the reliable arguments, among the majority of Muslim philosophers for proving the existence of God, is the cosmological argument. Avicenna, in his book “al_Ishārāt”, has a particular reading of this argument, which claims to be independent from the creation to proving the creator. So only by considering existence per se, he has proved the existence of God and has called this argument “The righteous” argument. Apparently later philosophers have initially accepted this term and have criticized him using his own criterion. They have questioned if the term is adequate. Two fundamental critiques have been raised. One is that this argument is based on impossibility of infinite and circular regress and the second is that in the argument, the quiddity has been applied as a premise. In this study it will be shown that the argument is not in need for impossibility of infinite regress, but it will be also explained that against Avicenna’s claims, in this argument the necessary  being is not derived from the existence per se and the concept of quiddity plays a role in this argument.  We cannot call this argument “The righteous” argument as regarded in Mulla Sadra’s philosophy. Nevertheless, in peripatetic school, it’s the most direct argument for proving the existence of God.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Ontological Researches
Volume 7, Issue 13
September 2018
Pages 57-72

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