@article{article_1733090, title={ABŪ NAṢR AL-FĀRĀBĪ ON THE SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE SOUL}, journal={Mütefekkir}, volume={12}, pages={41–68}, year={2025}, DOI={10.30523/mutefekkir.1733090}, author={Akbay, Yunus Emre}, keywords={Zihin Felsefesi, el-Fârâbî, Zâtî Bilinç, Marifet, Kimlik.}, abstract={Questions concerning the nature of self-consciousness, personal identity, and what becomes of these when the soul departs from the body have always been fundamental issues for philosophers. This article investigates whether, according to Abū Naṣr al-Fārābī, the soul attains self-consciousness directly or indirectly, a distinction among types of self-consciousness is possible, and the soul maintains its self-consciousness and individual identity after death. The scope of this article extends to the relevant passages from the philosopher’s surviving works and fundamental texts in the secondary literature. The aim of the article is to reveal the philosopher’s contributions to this discussion. Since no study focusing on al-Fārābī has yet been encountered among texts written on self-consciousness, it can be said that the study possesses original value and significance in this respect. The article’s thesis advances that according to al-Fārābī, a reading of human souls as possessing self-consciousness that is direct, immediate, and continuous -beginning simultaneously with the soul’s existence together with the body and continuing with the soul’s continued existence- is possible. According to the conclusions reached, al-Fārābī considers that self-consciousness begins with the soul’s existence together with the body, and that this consciousness and individual identity continue with the soul’s persistence of existence after death. In contrast, he argues that the knowledge of self-consciousness occurs intermittently. The soul must separate itself from materiality, place itself at the centre of its apprehension, and intellectually perfect its secondary consciousness concerning the self to ultimate perfection. For souls that attain ultimate perfection, their self-consciousness and personal identity continue after their separation from the body; these souls are either rewarded with infinite happiness or punished with infinite torment. On the other hand, some souls perish together with the body due to their failure to attain this perfection. These souls lose their self-consciousness and identity.}, number={23}, publisher={Aksaray Üniversitesi}