OMNISCIENCE, IMMUTABILITY AND TENSED FACTS IN AVICENNA AND AL-GHAZÂLÎ
OMNISCIENCE, IMMUTABILITY AND TENSED FACTS IN AVICENNA AND AL-GHAZÂLÎ
Author(s): Abdulkadir TanışSubject(s): Islam studies, Philosophy of Middle Ages, Existentialism, Middle-East Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, 6th to 12th Centuries, 13th to 14th Centuries
Published by: Teaduste Akadeemia Kirjastus
Keywords: omniscience; immutability; Avicenna, al-Ghazâlî; tensed facts;
Summary/Abstract: In Islamic thought, the question “How does God know tensed facts?” has been thoroughly discussed over a tension between the attributes of omniscience and immutability. Avicenna and al-Ghazâlî, who give wide coverage to this problem in their studies, propose different solutions to eliminate this tension. Avicenna acknowledges that a being who knows tensed facts is subject to change, therefore he claims that God knows everything in a universal way and excludes tensed facts from the extent of omniscience. On the other hand, al-Ghazâlî claims that God knows tensed facts, but He does not undergo any real change by knowing them. In this study, I will argue that neither of these answers are convincing in generating a solution to the expressed tension.
Journal: TRAMES
- Issue Year: XXV/2021
- Issue No: 3
- Page Range: 339-353
- Page Count: 15
- Language: English