The Principle of Cognation in Peripatetic Philosophy and Its Effect on the Ontological Relationship of the Soul and Faculties

Abstract

Peripatetics believe in the existence of a causal relationship between the human soul and its faculties. They state that faculties and powers have a dependent and inseparable status of the soul. Generally speaking, causality needs the cognation of cause and effects, which is possible in the light of a certain kind of existential cognation. As cognation requires the superiority of creative agents over their effects and indicates the existential gradation between them. Therefore, the causal relationship between the soul and the faculties is not an exception, and the type of ontological relationship between them is based on the main rules of peripatetic philosophy. In this regard, any kinds of pure multiplicity and distinction between the soul and the faculties lead to a definite denial of the causal relationship between them and challenge the ontological and the inseparable connection between the soul and the faculties. So, this is the human soul that refers causality to the soul via the terms of principle, origin, source- in the sense of the existence of the objective aspect of the soul in relation to the faculties and addresses the effect to the faculties through the terms such as effect, sub-functions, and functions. This shows the acquisition of the objective existence of faculties by the human soul. Then, how is it possible that the faculties are known as the branches, sub-branches, and accessories of their actual cause share their existence with the objective reality of the cause?

Keywords

• ibn sina
• ontology
• cognation
• unity
• soul
• faculties of the soul