Abstract
This article seeks to present the bases of two views related to human beings held by Basran
Muʿtazilites and their reflections in theoretical physics, knowledge, and ethics. The first one is based on the
rejection of atomism, which was begun by al-Naẓẓām and continued by al-Jāḥiẓ, and therefore argues that
the human being is essentially nothing more than soul and that the body is just an instrument. The second
one, which accepts atomism and was begun by Abū al-Hudhayl and reached its zenith under Qāḍī ʿAbd al-
Jabbār, states that the human being consists of the body and that the soul is like a breath and has no ability
to direct a person’s actions. One cannot, however, evaluate such views just from how a group perceives the
body and the soul, because one can also observe the results of such views in other matters related to human
beings, such as knowledge and ethics. Indeed, al-Naẓẓām accepts the nature of man and his followers dealt
with issues like the formation of self, whereas Abū al-Hudhayl, who rejects nature or any other perpetual
power, and his followers focused on the progress of the human being’s actions.
Keywords
al-Naẓẓām Abū al-Hudhayl Muʿtazila atomism nafs human natureShare
Details
- Authors: Yunus Cengiz, Assoc. Prof., Mardin Artuklu University
- DOI: dx.doi.org/10.12658/Nazariyat.4.2.M0056en
- Year: 2018 (May) / Volume: 4 / Issue: 2
- Page: 57-73
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