Rethinking the History of the Distinction between Necessary and Possible Existence: a Survey of al-ʿĀmirī, al-Iṣfahānī, and Ibn Sīnā
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1163/18778372-12340054
- Dergi Adı: Oriens
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Scopus, Periodicals Index Online, L'Année philologique, ATLA Religion Database, Historical Abstracts, Index Islamicus, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, MLA International Bibliography
- Anahtar Kelimeler: al-Iršād li-taṣḥīḥ al-iʿtiqād, al-Iʿtiqādāt, al-Rāġib al-Iṣfahānī, al-ʿĀmirī, Ibn Sīnā, modal concepts, necessary-possible existence distinction, Robert Wisnovsky
- İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The distinction between necessary and possible existence represents one of Ibn Sīnā’s (d. 428/1037) most profound contributions to the history of philosophy. Recent scholarship exploring the intellectual precursors to this Avicennian development has highlighted two pivotal figures: Al-ʿĀmirī (d. 381/992), and al-Rāġib al-Iṣfahānī (d. early 5th/11th century). This article first examines in detail how al-ʿĀmirī constructs the distinction between necessary and possible existence across his works, including his newly discovered text, al-Iršād li-taṣḥīḥ al-iʿtiqād. Next, by highlighting the textual similarities between al-Iršād and al-Iʿtiqādāt – wherein al-Iṣfahānī addresses this very distinction – it demonstrates that al-Iṣfahānī’s primary source on the matter was al-ʿĀmirī’s al-Iršād. Finally, it illustrates that Ibn Sīnā was significantly influenced by al-Iršād regarding this distinction during the early phase of his philosophical career.