Argument of Floating Man in Avicenna: Analysis, Comparison and Criticism

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor in Department of Islamic Theology and Philosophy, Research Institute of Hawzah and University, Qom, Iran.

2 Associate Professor in Department of Islamic Theology and Philosophy, Research Institute of Hawzah and University, Qom, Iran.

10.22034/ra.2024.2001694.2882

Abstract

In his book on resurrection (Risala al-Adhawiyah) Avicenna has submitted a reasoning revealing the truth of Man and entailing the core concept of the argument of Floating Man. The current research is an attempt to analyze and criticize this reasoning and examine in relation with the notable argument of Floating Man. Besides, this reasoning is compared with the argument of Floating Man in other scripts of Avicenna. In addition to that the progression of the argument is traced back in all writing of the Avicenna and finally one analysis of the argument is criticized. It was discussed that the discussed reasoning entails the critical preliminaries of the Floating Man argument but stands in the need of further development and modification. Thus, in the subsequent works of Avicenna some components are added to and some are removed from the argument through a maturational progress. The evolution of the argument of Floating Man in works of Avicenna submits proofs on his maturational advancement in knowledge from youth to the later stages of life.

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