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This book explores the reaction of tenth-century Arab philosopher Abu Nasr Alfarabi to the logical works of Aristotle. From numerous short treatises the author develops a systematic and comprehensive topical survey of Alfara bi's logical writings.
The book is divided into two major parts: language as a tool of logic (Chapters 1-5) and logic as a tool with which to analyze language (Chapter 6). The first five chapters deal with Alfarabi's analysis of the meanings of various terms as they are used in logic and philosophy. Alfarabi refutes the Arab grammarians who claimed that Arab logicians were building a language within a language and shows that the philosophical meanings of terms are in fact their most original and essential meanings. The final chapter deals with Alfarabi's analysis of certain aspects of the Arabic language (such as copula) and demonstrates that Arabic, like any natural language, conforms to universal logical structures of which natural languages are only a concrete expression.
Preface
Introduction
1. Particulars and Universals: An Introduction to Alfarabi's Logical Lexicon
Particulars and Universals in Alfarabi's Writings
"Genus" and "Species" in Alfarabi
Essential Difference [Fasl Dhati ]
Property [Al-Khassah]
Accident [Al-'Arad]
2. Definition and Description in Alfarabi's System
General Types of Phrases and Sentences in Alfarabi
The Place of Definition and Description in This Scheme: The Structural Point of View
Subject Matter of Definitory Clauses [ Hadd]
Subject Matter of Descriptive Clauses [Rasm]
3. The Concept of Essence in Alfarabi
The Role of Question Particles in Definition
The Many Facets of Essence
Essence as a Combination of Form and Matter: The Role of the Kayfa Particle
4. The Concepts of Demonstration, Division, and Classification and Their Relationship to Definition
'How?' and 'Why?' [Kayfa and Lima] Questions
Madha, Li-Madha, Bi-Madha, and 'An Madha Questions
Theory of Demonstration
Division [Qismah ] and Classification [Tarkib] in Alfarabi's Writings
5. The Term Mawjud in Nonlogical Contexts
The Question Particles Hal and Alif
Hal and its Uses in the Syllogistic Arts
Mawjud and the Concept of Truth
6. Alfarabi's Linguistic Philosophy
The Arabic Verb System versus Aristotelian Logic
The Dual Character of Arabic Verbs: The Existential Verb as Copula
Filling a "Gap" in Predication: The Pronoun Huwa as Copula
The Elusive Present Tense and Other Anomalies of the Arabic Verb System
The Elusive Present Tense Continued: The KufianView
The Copula as a Timeless Connector
Language Acquisition
The Concept of Mithal Awwal in Alfarabi's System
Abstract Nouns of the Form '... iyyah'
Conclusion
Appendix I: Primary Substance in Aristotle
Appendix II: Avicenna (Ibn Sina) on the Concept of 'essential' [dhati ]
Bibliography
Index