Philosophical themes Hayy ibn Yaqdhan

1 philosophical themes

1.1 empiricism, tabula rasa, nature versus nurture
1.2 conditions of possibility
1.3 materialism
1.4 molyneux problem

philosophical themes

hayy ibn yaqdhan dealt many philosophical themes, in regards epistemology. thoughts expressed in novel can found in different variations , different degrees in books of thomas hobbes, john locke, isaac newton, , immanuel kant.

ibn tufail s hayy ibn yaqdhan written both continuation of avicenna s version of story , response al-ghazali s incoherence of philosophers, had criticized many of avicenna s views. ibn tufail cited al-farabi, avicenna s avicennism , al-ghazali s ash ari theology main influences behind work, teacher ibn bajjah (avempace), ibn tumart, , sufism.

seyyed hossein nasr summarizes message of book: “hayy solitary of ibn bajjah, inner experience reach truth through intellect (…) points 1 of major messages lies @ heart of islamic philosophy. message inner accord between philosophy , religion , esoteric role of philosophy inner dimension of truths expounded revealed religion whole human collectivity.”

empiricism, tabula rasa, nature versus nurture

in hayy ibn yaqdhan, ibn tufail first demonstrate avicenna s theories of empiricism , tabula rasa thought experiment in novel, depicted development of mind of feral child tabula rasa of adult, in complete isolation society on deserted island. latin translation of work, entitled philosophus autodidactus, published edward pococke younger in 1671, inspired john locke s formulation of tabula rasa in essay concerning human understanding, went on become 1 of principal sources of empiricism in modern western philosophy, , influenced many enlightenment philosophers, such david hume , george berkeley. theory of tabula rasa later gave rise nature versus nurture debate in modern psychology. according nasr, however:

far being treatise on naturalism denying revelation, have claimed, hayy ibn yaqzån work seeks unveil within man significance of intellect illumination of mind inner revelation cannot confirm truths of outer revelation , objective prophecy.

conditions of possibility

in hayy ibn yaqzan, ibn tufail first author in history of philosophy ask himself question of conditions of possibility of thought. asked himself questions how thought manifest , structure? answer humble experience already, itself, structured thought.

materialism

hayy determines trappings of civilization, namely imagery , dependence on material goods, necessary multitude in order might have decent lives. however, believes imagery , material goods distractions truth , ought abandoned reason recognizes distractions. hayy s ideas on materialism in novel have similarities karl marx s historical materialism.

molyneux problem

ibn tufail foreshadowed molyneux s problem, unsolved problem in philosophy proposed william molyneux locke, included in second book of essay concerning human understanding. ibn tufail wrote following in hayy ibn yaqzan:

if want comparison make grasp difference between perception, such understood sect [the sufis] , perception others understand it, imagine person born blind, endowed happy natural temperament, lively , firm intelligence, sure memory, straight sprite, grew time infant in city never stopped learning, means of senses did dispose of, know inhabitants individually, numerous species of beings, living non-living, there, streets , sidestreets, houses, steps, in such manner able cross city without guide, , recognize met; colors alone not known him except names bore, , definitions designated them. suppose had arrived @ point , suddenly, eyes opened, recovered view, , crosses entire city, making tour of it. find no object different idea had made of it; encounter nothing didn’t recognize, find colors conformable descriptions of them had been given him; , in there 2 new important things him, 1 consequence of other: clarity, greater brightness, , great voluptuousness.