A1 Journal article (refereed)
Iʿtibārī Concepts in Suhrawardī : The Case of Substance (2020)

Kaukua, J. (2020). Iʿtibārī Concepts in Suhrawardī : The Case of Substance. Oriens : Journal of Philosophy, Theology and Science in Islamic Societies, 48(1-2), 40-66. https://doi.org/10.1163/18778372-04801003

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kaukua, Jari

Journal or series: Oriens : Journal of Philosophy, Theology and Science in Islamic Societies

ISSN: 0078-6527

eISSN: 1877-8372

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 48

Issue number: 1-2

Pages range: 40-66

Publisher: Brill

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/18778372-04801003

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/70167

Abstract

Shihāb al-Dīn al-Suhrawardī (d. 587/1191) famously criticised the central concepts of Avicennian metaphysics as merely mind-dependent (or iʿtibārī) notions. This paper aims to show that despite his critique, Suhrawardī held that these concepts are meaningful, indeed necessary for human cognition. By the same token, it is argued that their re-emergence in Suhrawardī’s ishrāqī metaphysics is not a matter of incoherence. Although the paper’s findings can be generalised to hold of all iʿtibārī concepts, mutatis mutandis, our focus is on the concept of substance, mainly because of the importance of the concept of ‘dusky substance’ in ishrāqī metaphysics.

Keywords: Arabic philosophy; metaphysics; realism (philosophy); conceptualism

Free keywords: Suhrawardī; Avicenna; iʿtibār

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020

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