Ibn Sīnā. A Philosophical Mysticism or a Philosophy of Mysticism?
Mediterranea. International Journal on the Transfer of Knowledge March 1, 2016 Jules Janssens 3 citations
Ibn Sīnā's final work, al-Ishārāt wa-l-tanbīhāt (Pointers and Reminders), makes extensive use of mystical vocabulary, leading some scholars to conclude he adopted a form of religious or philosophical mysticism. However, a detailed analysis of key passages shows that Ibn Sīnā interprets these mystical notions in a way that has little to nothing in common with their meanings in Sufi writings or Neoplatonic mystical philosophy. The paper argues that the final part of the Ishārāt presents a philosophical project that rationally interprets mystical terms, expressions, and phenomena, rather than a form of philosophical mysticism.