Document Type : Letter to Editor

Author

PhD Student, Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Tehran University

Abstract

In his Isagoge, Porphyry provides circular definitions for genus and species; and to justify this point, following Aristotle, he attaches emphasis to correlation between the two concepts and that the definitions for two correlative concepts should be circular. Ibn Sina, however, interprets Aristotelian point in another way; and, in some places in his works, he rejects Porphyry's definitions strongly. Jonathan Barthes, who is one of the most eminent editors (experts) of the ancient philosophy, provides a report and assessment other than those of Ibn Sina. The present essay concerns a comparative study of Ibn Sina and Bartes' ideas and represents similarities and dissimilarities between ideas of the two commentators in this special field.

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