Family in Avicenna’s System of Applied Philosophy
Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Phd student in Transcendent Philosophy, Isfahan University
2 Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theology, Isfahan University
10.22034/ra.2019.73033.2039
Abstract
Family is the most basic social institution and the most fundamental element of the community and the context in which values are fostered. In his treatises including “Wujub al-Siyassah” and “Al-Ha’jat ila al-Siyassah” in particular as well as other writings in general, Avicenna has penned about family and adopted a religious-philosophical approach to delve into the necessity of the institution and factors and barriers toward its secure establishment. The present study, first, investigates the position of family n Avecenian philosophical system and then probes the fundamental elements associated with it including marriage, cooperation of man and wife in house management, family law and the principles ruling housing affairs. Concerning marriage factors, Avicenna lays stress on sexual, psychological, social and economical motivations and calls attentions of managers and rulers of the society to economical welfare, job creation, couples’ intellectual maturation, preventing from hidden marriages and chastity of the family aimed at strengthening the establishment of the family institution. Besides, regarding the rights of wife and duties of husband, Avicenna underscores the duty of paying subsistence alimony to wife and her rights for respect and support while knowing he man as the pillar of the institution. However, concerning the right of divorce, he believes that such a right should not be held by someone who is morally instable and rationally ill. Therefore, in some conditions, man might become deprived of such a privilege.
Keywords
)