Kitab al-Alal explains the principles and first causes of things and discusses God. The issue of this article is the ontological position of intelligence in Kitab al-Alal. The question is, what is the ontological position of intelligence in Kitab al-Alal, and how can it be explained? Is it possible to assign the position of teleology to the perfection and happiness of man in the Book of Causes? In terms of existence, intelligence is the first creature and the closest being to the first cause, and it is in the second place after the first cause. The ontological effectiveness of intelligence is measured in two ways: planning, ruling, and creating. The act of intellection is the act of creation. In this article, to explain this issue and answer the questions descriptively and analytically, we will explain and analyze the chapters related to intelligence.
Aquinas, Thomas. (1996). Commentary on the Book of Causes [Super Librum De Causis Expositio]. Translated and annotated by Vincent A. Guagliardo, O. P.& Charles R. Hess, O. P& Richard C. Taylor. Washington, D. C: The Catholic University of America Press.
Aquinas, Tomas, (1997). On Being and Essence (DE ENTE ET ESSENTIA), Translated by Robert T. Miller. www.Abika.com
Bertolacci, Amos. (2012). “A HIDDEN HAPAX LEGOMENON IN AVICENNA’S METAPHYSICS: CONSIDERATIONS ON THE USE OF ANNIYYA AND AYYIYYA IN THE ILAHIYYAT OF THE KITAB AL-SIFA”, Koninklijke Brill NV. Pp. 289-309. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004235083_015 (accessed by 1/1/2024)
Badawi, Abdulrahman (1977). Al-Aydah Fi Al-Khair Al-Mahd for Aristotle, Al-Flatuniyyah Al-Muhadithah Andal-Arab, Kuwait: Vakalt Al-Mahabat.(Arabic).
Bertolacci, Amos. (2022). “God`s Existence and Essence: The Liber de causis and School Discussions in the Metaphysics of Avicenna”. Calma, Dragos, Reading Proclus and the Book of Causes. V 3. 251-280. LEIDEN/ BOSTON:BRILL. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004501331_012 (accessed by 1/5/2024)
Brand, Dennis. J. (1984). The Book of Causes. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53233: MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY PRESS.
Calma, Dragos. (2022). Reading Proclus and the Book of Causes, Volume 3. LEIDEN/ BOSTON: BRILL.
PROCLUS. (1971). THE ELEMENTS OF THEOLOGY. A REVISTED TEXT with Translation, Introduction and Commentary by E. R. DODDS. Second edition. Glascow, New York, Toronto, Melbourne, Wellington: OXFORD AT THE CLARENDON PRESS.
Shahrzouri, Mohammad bin Mohammad (n.d). The history of the sages before the advent of Islam and after "Nuzha al-Aroom and Rudd al-Afarah". Paris: Dar Biblioen.(Arabic).
Strauss, Daniel (January 2014). "Hylozoism and hylomorphism: a lasting legacy of Greek philosophy". Phronimon. 15 (1). 32–45 (doi:10.25159/2413-3086/2211 Accessed by 2024/ 5/ 10).
Taylor, Richard C. (1979). ST. Thomas and the Liber de causis on the Hlyomorphic Composition of Separate Substances. Mediaeval Studies, Vol 41, pp 506-513.
DOI: 10.1484/J.MS.2.306252 (accessed by 2024/ 6/ 26
Aquinas T (1996). Commentary on the book of causes. Guagliardo VA, Hess CR, Taylor RC, Translators. Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press. [Link]
Aquinas T (1997). On being and essence. Miller RT, Translator. New York: Internet Medieval Sourcebook. [Link]
Badawi A (1977). AL-AYDAH FI AL-KHAIR AL-MAHD LE-ARISTOTLE. In: AL-AFLATUNIYYAH AL-MUHADITHAH ANDAL-ARAB. Kuwait: VEKALAT AL-MATBUAT. [Arabic] [Link]
Bertolacci A (2022). God's existence and essence: The liber de causis and school discussions in the metaphysics of Avicenna. In: Reading Proclus and the book of causes (Volume 3). Leiden: Brill. p. 251-280. [Link] [DOI:10.1163/9789004501331_012]
Brand DJ (1984). The book of causes. Milwaukee: Marquette University Press. [Link]
Calma D (2022). Reading Proclus and the book of causes (Volume 3). Leiden: BRILL. [Link] [DOI:10.1163/9789004501331]
Proclus (1971). The elements of theology: A revised text with translation, introduction and commentary. Dodds ER, editor. 2nd edition. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Link]
Shahrzouri MIM (n.d.). The history of the sages before the advent of Islam and after "NUZHAT AL-ARVAH VA RUZAT AL-AFRAH". Paris: DAR BYBLION. [Arabic] [Link]
Taylor RC (1979). ST. Thomas and the liber de causis on the hlyomorphic composition of separate substances. Mediaeval Studies. 41:506-513. [Link] [DOI:10.1484/J.MS.2.306252]
Abasi Hosseinabadi,H. (2025). The Ontological Position of Intelligence in Kitab al-Alal. Philosophical Thought, 4(4), 301-312. doi: 10.58209/jpt.4.4.301
MLA
Abasi Hosseinabadi,H. . "The Ontological Position of Intelligence in Kitab al-Alal", Philosophical Thought, 4, 4, 2025, 301-312. doi: 10.58209/jpt.4.4.301
HARVARD
Abasi Hosseinabadi H. (2025). 'The Ontological Position of Intelligence in Kitab al-Alal', Philosophical Thought, 4(4), pp. 301-312. doi: 10.58209/jpt.4.4.301
CHICAGO
H. Abasi Hosseinabadi, "The Ontological Position of Intelligence in Kitab al-Alal," Philosophical Thought, 4 4 (2025): 301-312, doi: 10.58209/jpt.4.4.301
VANCOUVER
Abasi Hosseinabadi H. The Ontological Position of Intelligence in Kitab al-Alal. Philosophical Thought, 2025; 4(4): 301-312. doi: 10.58209/jpt.4.4.301