Causality and the Secrets of Extraordinary Events in the Philosophy of Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna)

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna)'s claim that extraordinary events can also be explained by nature, as opposed to a world of meaning inherited from Aristotle and based on sensible qualities and the tradition that excludes events that take place in this world but cannot be explained by nature. In this direction, the secrets of causality and extraordinary states in the philosophy of Avicenna were examined separately. Our study, which is shaped by the text analysis method, focuses on the works of Avicenna and secondary academic studies written about Avicenna. The relationship of the events that are thought to have no place in nature, called extraordinary events, with nature has been evaluated. In this context, the paper consists of two parts and an evaluation part. In the first part, causality, and nature in the philosophy of Avicenna, in the second part, the secrets of extraordinary events in the philosophy of Avicenna, and in the last part, an evaluation of the rational explanations presented by the philosophy of Avicenna to scientific reality in the light of these explanations. In the research, the causality section in the philosophy of Avicenna is explained based on the Physics and Metaphysics works. In addition, secondary sources were also used. The relationship between nature and the context of extraordinary events is shaped by the claims of Ibn Sīnā in his work al-Isharat wa’l-tanbihat. In the work, Avicenna examines this subject under a specific title. The claim that extraordinary events can be explained in the context of natural causation is also emphasized in this section. However, considering the terms that Ibn Sīnā used to explain extraordinary events and the chapter he included in his work, different results are obtained from his claim. Ibn Sīnā emphasizes that it is one of the known ways of nature that even the savant can stay hungry for a long time. It is claimed that the subject proceeds through the wise and that every situation has a natural way. Based on this, it is thought that the research will contribute to the interpretations of whether Avicenna is a mystical or rational philosopher. As a result of the research, although Ibn Sīnā states that he explained extraordinary events with reason, it is seen that he also bears traces of a mystical understanding. While the parts of Ibn Sīnā's works in which he examines explicitly the issue of causality are shaped by existence, explanations are made according to the characteristics of the soul in extraordinary events. He uses the relationship between soul and body to explain extraordinary events. It is thought that the extraordinary events we deal with concerning causality should be handled and examined in different subjects such as revelation, prophecy, miracle, and dream.