Mystical Philosophy of Avicenna

This collection of essays focuses on the ontology of the most important medieval Muslim philosopher, Ibn Sina (980-1037), proffering the theses that: (a) his ontology is incompatible with monotheistic theologies; (b) his cosmogony is not derivable from either Aristotelian or Neoplatonic systems; and finally (c) the mystical dimension of his system is in accord with monistic “nature mysticism,” as classified by R. C. Zaehner. In contrast to the views of a majority of contemporary scholars, that Ibn Sina’s philosophy essentially follows monotheistic or Greek philosophical systems, this collection emphasizes his original contributions to ontology and meta-mysticism.