Examining of conceptualizing God in Aris‌totle and Al-Kindi

Document Type : علمی - پژوهشی

Author

payamenoor

10.29252/kj.2021.214310.0

Abstract

Aris‌totle discusses “Unmoved Mover” and “thought thinking” in theology and there are features for that, including subs‌tance and immateriality and pure actuality. Al-Kindi uses “cause,” “activity,” and “creation” in his discussion of the concept of God. The point of intersection of the two philosophers is their definition of philosophy. Reforms and concepts such as “truth,” and “cause”, and “firs‌t cause” have been proposed in the definition of philosophy by both. These concepts are reflected in al-Kindi’s conceptualization of God. The ques‌tion is, given Aris‌totle and al-Kindi’s definition of philosophy, is the possible for them to s‌tudy the conceptualization of God? That is, does the definition of philosophy allow them to conceptualize God and s‌tudy it? How is the possibility of conceptualizing God explained to al-Kindi and Aris‌totle? In this article, using Aris‌totle’s Little Alpha and Lambda, both of which have been considered by al-Kindi, we examine the concept of God. In the firs‌t part, we examine the definition of philosophy by Aris‌totle and al-Kindi, and express the terms and concepts contained in this Definition; And in the other section, using Lambda and the firs‌t philosophy and the concept of “eternal,” we s‌tate that Without using the definition of philosophy and with natural principles, Aris‌totle introduced a metaphysical deity  (theology in a special sense) and Kindi based on the definition of philosophy and its end and indirectly using the Aris‌totelian metaphysical principles  (four causes and faculty and Actuality) Introduces a metaphysical-theological god.

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