The Influence of Ibn Gabirol on John Duns Scotus' Metaphysics

Abstract

In his work Yanbu’ al-haya, the Jewish philosopher Ibn Gabirol, who lived in Andalusia in the eleventh century, lays the groundwork for his original philosophy. In the twelfth century, this work, with its translation into Latin under the name Fons vitae, influenced many philosophers in the tradition of Scholastic thought. The aim of this study is to examine the general lines of this work and to determine in which ways the thoughts in the work of the Jewish philosopher influenced John Duns Scotus, one of the important names of Scholastic thought. In this context, the basic thoughts of both thinkers about metaphysics were examined. As a result of this examination, it has been determined that John Duns Scotus was influenced by Ibn Gabirol in certain aspects in his views incorporeal substances, the plurality of forms and divine will.

Keywords

• Medieval philosophy
• hylomorphism
• incorporeal substances
• plurality of forms
• divine will.

İbn Cebirol’ün John Duns Scotus’un Metafiziğine Etkisi

Öz

On birinci yüzyılda Endülüs’te yaşamış olan Yahudi filozof İbn Cebirol’ün özgün felsefesinin başlıca özellikleri Yenbû’u’l-Hayât adlı eserinde bulunmaktadır. On ikinci yüzyılda söz konusu eser Fons vitae adıyla Latinceye tercüme edilmesiyle birlikte Skolastik düşüncede geleneğinde yer alan pek çok filozofu düşünsel anlamda etkilemiştir. İbn Cebirol’ün bu eserindeki düşüncelerini genel hatlarını irdelemek ve söz konusu düşüncelerin Skolastik düşüncenin önemli isimlerinden birisi olan John Duns Scotus’u hangi yönlerden etkilendiğini saptamak bu çalışmanın amacını oluşturmaktadır. Bu bağlamda her iki düşünürün de metafizik hakkındaki temel düşünceleri irdelenmiştir. Bu irdelemenin sonucunda John Duns Scotus’un gayri cismanî madde, suretlerin çokluğu ve ilahî irade hakkında serdettiği görüşlerde belli açılardan İbn Cebirol’den etkilendiği saptanmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Orta Çağ felsefesi
• hilomorfizm
• gayri cismanî cevherler
• suretlerin çokluğu
• ilahî irade

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