Particle Concepts in the Avicennian Philosophy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Javad Azimi Dastgerdi ¹
• Ali Arshad Riahi ²

¹ PHD student, 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

10.22067/epk.2025.89523.1360

Abstract

What plays a key role, in the works of philosophers, for understanding the copulative existence (and its place in the concrete), and for the analysis of human knowledge, is copulative in judgements. Avicenna considers the copulative in the judgement to indicate the relationship and interest that the two sides of the judgement have to each other, and he adds this relationship to the particle concepts. Particle concepts have a fundamental difference with noun concepts. In this article, emphasizing the works of Avicenna, the particle concepts are analyzed and it is revealed that the particle concepts state the proportions that the seven relative categories require. Studying the relationship between relative categories and particle concepts, it is resulted that the proportions that are particle concepts are independent existences that are attached to objects; are specific to relation and are influential in other relative categories. The human mind can consider these proportions in two manners: one, in the manner of noun concept, and the other, in the manner of particle concept. When these proportions are considered as particle concepts, they require rational relations that cause the connection between the concepts. These rational relations establish the foundation of knowledge and production of science.

Keywords

• particle concepts
• particle
• proportion
• relation
• copulative

Main Subjects

• Islamic Philosophy and Kalam

---