Comparative analysis of Aquinas and Ibn sinaâs viewpoints about the knowledge of angels

• Main Authors: Ali Sanaee, Azim Hamzeian
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: University of Isfahan 2016-03-01
• Series: Comparative Theology
• Subjects: Aquinas- Ibn Sina- angel- knowledge- active intellect- intellectual substances
• Online Access: http://coth.ui.ac.ir/article_20762_6dffb654d053d6b8d17f6e54a4ede459.pdf

Abstract In this article, we will analyze the viewpoints of Aquinas and Ibn Sina about the knowledge of angels, then will show their similarities and differences regarding this topic. Although both Aquinas and Ibn Sina are affected by Aristotelian tradition but due to their different cosmology their views about this concept is different in some aspects, therefore they draw different conclusions about the place of angelâs knowledge. Aquinas and Ibn Sina both believe that angels are intellectual entities and their major characteristic is cognition, but Ibn Sina believes that the angelâs knowledge is the cause of inferior beings but Aquinas maintains that angels havenât a causal role in universe and the knowledge of superior angel in relation to inferior angel is explainable by simplicity of its essence. On the other hand, Ibn Sina believes that angels know the particular thing through universal concept (that is, constant and unchangeable affairs), but Aquinas says that the angel know particular qua particular.