Causality in Islamic Philosophy:The Arguments of Ibn Sīnā

Abstract

This article is intended to provide insight into aspects of Ibn Sīnā’s natural philosophy. It will summarize his interpretation of the Aristotelian four causes, explicate his theory of efficient and necessary causal linkage, and analyze his argu- ments for causal efficacy. Finally, it will discuss Ibn Sīnā’s views on chance happenings in nature.