The Definition of Man According to Ibn Sina and Jabir ibn Hayyan

Abstract

In Islamic philosophy, Treatises on Definition are fundamental works that reveal the methods and thought patterns of those engaged in science and philosophy. Through these works, philosophers have put forward important views on what constitutes the elements of definition. In this context, our study examines the works of Ibn Sina and Jabir ibn Hayyan on the Treatises on Definition. The views of both philosophers on definition within the scope of the problem of definition in logic are discussed. Specifically, our study draws attention to the concept of humanity, which both philosophers frequently emphasized in their discussions of the problem of definition. Subsequently, we discuss the methods used by Jabir ibn Hayyan and Ibn Sina in defining the concept/nature of humanity. In this way, we evaluate the views of Ibn Sina and Hayyan on the definition of humanity within the discipline of logic.