Aristotelian Logic and the Arabic Language in Alfarabi (SUNY Series in Hindu Studies) (English and Arabic Edition)

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.Shukri B. Abed is a Senior Research Fellow at the Harry S. Truman Research Institute of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Aristotelian Logic and the Arabic Language in Alfarabi 1 Contents 7 Preface 9 Introduction 10 Notes to Introduction 20 1 Particulars and Universals: An Introduction to Alfarabi's Logical Lexicon 25 Particulars and Universals in Alfarabi's Writings 27 "Genus" and "Species" in Alfarabi 35 Essential Difference [Fasl Dhati] 39 Property [Al-Khassah] 45 Accident [Al-'Arad] 48 Notes to Chapter 1 52 2 Definition and Description in Alfarabi's System 59 General Types of Phrases and Sentences in Alfarabi 59 The Place of Definition and Description in This Scheme: The Structural Point of View 64 Subject Matter of Definitory Clauses [Hadd] 66 Subject Matter of Descriptive Clauses [Rasm] 73 Notes to Chapter 2 77 3 The Concept of Essence in Alfarabi 82 The Role of Question Particles in Definition 82 The Hal Particle—Establishing Existence 83 The Kayfa Particle—In Search of Qualities 85 The Ayy Particle—In Search of Difference 86 The Ma Particle—In Search of Essence [Mahiyyahl 88 The Many Facets of Essence 90 Inniyyah as an Essence 91 Jawhar as an Essence [Mahiyyah] 91 Dhat as an Essence (Mahiyyah) 96 The Concept of Mahiyyah in Alfarabi: A Closer Look 98 Essence as a Combination of Form and Matter: The Role of the Kayfa Particle 100 Notes to Chapter 3 105 4 The Concepts of Demonstration, Division, and Classification and Their Relationship to Definition 109 'How?' and 'Why?' [Kayfa and Lima] Questions 109 Madha, Li-Madha, Bi-Madha, and 'An Madha Questions 110 Theory of Demonstration 112 Division [Qismah] and Classification [Tarkib] in Alfarabi's Writings 117 Notes to Chapter 4 122 5 The Term Mawjud in Nonlogical Contexts 127 The Question Particles Hal and Alif 127 Hal and its Uses in the Syllogistic Arts 131 Mawjad and the Concept of Truth 133 Notes to Chapter 5 137 6 Alfarabi's Linguistic Philosophy 140 The Arabic Verb System versus Aristotelian Logic 140 The Dual Character of Arabic Verbs: The Existential Verb as Copula 143 Filling a "Gap" in Predication: The Pronoun Huwa as Copula 147 The Elusive Present Tense and Other Anomalies of the Arabic Verb System 149 The Elusive Present Tense Continued: The Kufian View 151 The Copula as a Timeless Connector 157 Language Acquisition 162 The Concept of Mithal Awwal in Alfarbi's System 167 Abstract Nouns of the Form '.. . iyyah' 176 Notes to Chapter 6 178 Conclusion 187 Notes to Conclusion 192 Appendix I Primary Substance in Aristotle 194 Notes to Appendix I 196 Appendix II Avicenna (Ibn Sina) on the Concept of 'essential' [dhati] 197 Notes to Appendix II 198 Bibliography Alfarabi's Works Used in this Study 199 Works by Other Authors 200 Index 205 A 205 B 207 C 207 D 208 E 208 F 209 G 209 H 210 I 210 J 211 K 211 L 212 M 213 N 214 O 215 P 215 Q 215 R 216 S 216 T 217 U 218 V 218 W 218 Y 218 z 219 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 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.