Guess in the Viewpoint of Avicenna and Fakhr al-Din al-Razi

Document Type : Scholarly Article

Authors

Abstract

Many logicians have considered guess as one of the origins of certain principles, but they have not clarified this issue. In the works of Avicenna and consequently of his commentators, one can see meaning expansion in using this term. Avicenna brings the guess also in spiritual sciences and knows the prophecy as one of the fields of guess efficiency. Fakhr al-Din al-Razi as well as Avicenna emphasized on the role of the guess in revelation. Avicenna believed guess is related to Sacred Intellect which is above acquired Intellect, while Fakhr al-Din al-Razi held that guess is the highest level of Intellect in the sense possession and through three reasons did not consider guess as one of the certainties. According to the words of Avicenna about the relationship between revelation and certain guess, it reveals that the meaning of guess in soul discussions is mystical rather than logical.

Keywords

Main Subjects