Avicennian essentialism. Issue 3 (4th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Benevich, Fedor
• Is Part Of: British journal for the history of philosophy. Volume 30:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 410
• Page End: 433
• Publication Date: 2022-05-04
• Subjects: Essentialism -- Islamic philosophy -- Avicenna -- medieval metaphysics; Philosophy -- History -- Periodicals; 109
• DOI: 10.1080/09608788.2021.2007845
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8788

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Essentialism can be defined as a metaphysical theory according to which things have essential and accidental properties. In this paper, I will address Avicennian essentialism, that is, essentialism as we find it in Avicenna's own writings and the writings of the immediate post-Avicennian philosophical tradition of the Islamic world. I will consider a number of primary sources, summarize the state of recent scholarship regarding Avicennian metaphysics of attributes, and I will draw comparisons between Avicennian essentialism and modern essentialism. As a result, I will show that Avicennians endorse two different types of essentialism: conceptualist essentialism and de re essentialism. Avicennian conceptualist essentialism only applies to kinds, while Avicennian de re essentialism only applies to particular individuals.