Analysis of " Relation" and " Proportion" and their place in the Avicenna's philosophy

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology. Faculty of Theology and Ahl-al-Bayt (Prophet's Descendants) Studies. University of Isfahan. Isfahan. Iran

2 Department of Islamic philosophy and theology - Faculty of theology - university of Isfahan - Isfahan - Iran

10.22099/jrt.2024.49508.3001

Abstract

Although in the Avicenna's philosophy, non-independent existence is considered only for relation, but proportions also have similar characteristics to relation. for Avicenna, proportion (in its more general sense) is any kind of connection between two things. This proportion causes proportional accidents to occur in the concrete. But in the mind, proportion refers to the connection that proportional categories require. When this connection is considered as a connection, inevitably, both sides are considered because of this connection, not because of their essence. And in this case, there is nothing but relation. But when this connection is considered from one side, it includes six proportional categories. And "proportion", in another sense, is assigned to them. From these meanings of proportion, it is concluded that in Avicenna's philosophy, proportion is the non-independent existence that is proved for relation. The categories that are based on such proportion, require an connection, according to which, that categories are conceived in comparison with others. From such an existence, relative concepts such as proportion and copulative are abstracted, which are considered as examples of relation and can be called existential relation in contrast to relations of quiddity.

Keywords

Main Subjects