The Subject Term of Universal Proposition According to Ibn Sīnā and Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī

• Published in: İslam tetkikleri dergisi Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 263 - 291
• Main Author: Fatma Karaismail
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Arabic; English
• Published: Istanbul University Press 01.03.2023
• Subjects: fakhr al-dīn al-rāzī; ibn sīnā; predication; subject term; universal categorical proposition
• ISSN: 2717-6967
• DOI: 10.26650/iuitd.2023.1219680

This article examines Ibn Sīnā’s (d. 428/1037) views on the subject term of universal categorical proposition as well the comments of his influential interpreter and critic Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī (d. 606/1210) regarding this subject term. In al-Mukhtaṣar al-awsaṭ and al-Shifā’: al-Qiyās, Ibn Sīnā explained the five characteristics of the subject term of universal categorical proposition. When examining these characteristics of the subject term of universal categorical proposition as first put forth by Ibn Sīnā, it is clearly seen that they are mainly based on Ibn Sīnā’s understanding of essentialist (ḥaqīqī) proposition, predication theory, and the absolute and modal proposition interpretation. Examining these characteristics and their roots in detail and determining the interpretations, contributions, and criticisms of Avicennian logicians about these conditions is essential for being able to identify conception of the proposition of the Avicennian logic tradition. For this purpose, this article concisely presents the analysis of universal propositions in terms of their subject terms by explaining how Ibn Sînâ had obtained this interpretation of the subject term. While doing this, the article considers Rāzī’s comments, which had a vital role in making Ibn Sīnā’s understanding of the proposition more competent through commentary, correction, reclassification, and criticism. Thus, this paper clarifies Rāzī’s position on this critical issue and illuminate the starting points of the appearances of the subject in the post-Rāzī Islamic logic tradition.