Avicenna's Metaphysics
This course, taught by Dr. Jari Kaukua, explores Avicenna’s metaphysics, focusing on key topics such as essence and existence, the Principle of Sufficient Reason, modal logic, the Necessary Existent, God’s knowledge of particulars, and the problem of future contingency. With readings from Avicenna, contemporary scholars, and Dr. Kaukua’s own research, this course provides a deep dive into medieval philosophy, bridging classical thought with modern essentialism. Ideal for those interested in philosophy, theology, and metaphysics.
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Course Dates
Wedendays, September 2-November 4, 2026
Registration Deadline
July 1, 2026
Scholarship
Partial scholarships available
Curriculum
Avicenna’s Metaphysics
1.Essence and existence, PSR
Readings:
Selected texts from Avicenna.
Richardson, Kara. ‘Avicenna and the Principle of Sufficient Reason’. The Review of Metaphysics 67/4 (2014): 743–768.
Benevich, Fedor. ‘Avicenna’s Essentialism’. British Journal for the History of Philosophy 30/3 (2022): 410–433.
2.Modalities
Readings:
Selected texts from Avicenna.
Kaukua, Jari. ‘Modal Logic and Modal Metaphysics: An Avicennian Division of Labour’. Theoria, forthcoming.
Kaukua, Jari. ’Conceivability and Metaphysical Possibility in Avicenna’. Oxford Studies in Medieval Philosophy, forthcoming.
3.Proof for the Necessary Existent, its unicity, and its simplicity
Readings:
Selected texts from Avicenna.
Zarepour, Mohammad Saleh. Necessary Existence and Monotheism. CUP 2022. (Parts.)
4.Corollaries of the proof: eternity and unicity of the world
Readings:
Selected texts from Avicenna.
5.God’s knowledge of particulars through complete causes
Readings:
Selected texts from Avicenna.
Marmura, Michael E. ‘Some Aspects of Avicenna’s Theory of God’s Knowledge of Particulars’. Journal of the American Oriental Society 82/3 (1962): 299–312.
Kaukua, Jari. ‘Future Contingency and God’s Knowledge of Particulars in Avicenna’. British Journal for the History of Philosophy 32/4 (2024): 745–765.
6.Consequences of God’s knowledge of particulars through complete causes: necessitarianism, A-theory of time
Readings:
Selected texts from Avicenna.
Benevich, Fedor. ‘God’s Knowledge of Particulars: Avicenna, kalām, and the Post-Avicennian Synthesis’. Recherches de théologie et philosophie médiévales 86/1 (2019): 1–47.
7. Epistemic openness in logic and natural philosophy (future contingency, chance, probability)
Readings:
Selected texts from Avicenna.
Belo, Catarina. Chance and Determinism in Avicenna and Averroes. Brill, 2007. (Parts.)
Zarepour, Mohammad Saleh. ‘Ibn Sīnā on Future Contingency’. The Monist 108/3 (2025): 213–228.
8.Freedom of the will: Avicenna’s compatibilism
Readings:
Selected texts from Avicenna.
Kaukua, Jari. ‘Freedom and Responsibility in Avicenna’. In Daniel De Smet and Meryem Sebti (eds), Penser avec Avicenne: De l’héritage grec à la réception latine, en homage à Jules Janssens, Recherches de théologie et philosophie médiévales – Bibliotheca 20 (Peeters, 2022): 149–168.
9.Problems from the twelfth century: regress of existence, ungrounded ontological multiplicity
Readings:
Selected texts from Khayyām, Suhrawardī.
Wisnovsky, Robert. ‘Essence and Existence in the Eleventh- and Twelfth-Century Islamic East (mašriq): A Sketch’. In Dag Nikolaus Hasse and Amos Bertolacci (eds), The Arabic, Hebrew and Latin Reception of Avicenna’s Metaphysics (De Gruyter, 2012): 27–50.
10.Avicenna and contemporary essentialism?
Readings:
Fine, Kit. ‘Essence and Modality’. Philosophical Perspectives 8 (1994): 1–16.
Lowe, E. J. ‘What Is the Source of Our Knowledge of Modal Truths?’ Mind 121/484 (2012): 919–950.
Primary Target Audience
This course is designed for intellectually curious learners and interested laypersons who have some prior familiarity with philosophical reasoning. While the readings are not introductory, the course does not require expert-level knowledge. It is ideal for participants who are eager to engage with moderately advanced texts and explore philosophical arguments in a structured and accessible way.
Target group
This course is open to a wide and diverse audience, including:
🎓 Academics & Researchers
🕌 Religious Leaders & Faith-Based Practitioners
📘 University & Graduate Students
🌍 NGO Professionals & Peacebuilders
🗣️ Educators & Dialogue Facilitators
General info
Subject: Avicenna’s metaphysics
Language of instruction: English
Length: 10 sessions
Contact hours: 10
Certificate: Academic
Session Timing
Los Angeles (PST):
New York (EST):
London (GMT):
CET :
Tehran:
Lecturer
Dr. Jari Kaukua
Dr. Jari Kaukua is a professor at the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä, specializing in medieval philosophy, particularly the Arabic philosophical and theological tradition. His research focuses on epistemology, metaphysics, and philosophy of mind, with a particular interest in Avicenna. Dr. Kaukua has published extensively on modal logic, metaphysical possibility, and God’s knowledge in medieval thought. He is recognized for bridging classical Islamic philosophy with contemporary philosophical discourse.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from best scholars in the field.
Costs
Course Fee:
500 Euro
Scholarship
available
Important Dates
Course Start: September 3, 2026
Course End: November 5, 2026
Registration Deadline: July 1, 2026
Availabilities
Scholarship available
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