Certain knowledge and the elements of certain knowledge in avicenna

In Avicenna's thought, certainty is related to the competence gained in the knowledge. Within his system, knowledge is categorized by two different ways. First of these distinctions is the one between the initial knowledge and the acquired knowledge. The second one is the distinction between conceptional knowledge and propositional knowledge. The type of knowledge associated with certainty is the acquired propositional knowledge. Because this type of knowledge contains a judgment and it is achieved via a cognitive success. The way to obtain the acquired propositional knowledge is syllogism. The syllogism doesn't necessarily entail certainty, but the certainty arises by using some types of syllogism. The type of syllogism that Avicenna associated with certainty is the demonstrative syllogism. However in his system the demonstration isn't only a type of syllogism. The philosopher has created a theory on the basis of demonstration and he has considered it as a proof method. His apprehension of certainty becomes clear when his definition of knowledge and the elements emerged with this definition are exhibited. It is possible to say that, in Avicenna's thought, the states relative to knowing take place within a mental classification. In this classification, certain knowledge takes place at the utmost level and the degree of certainty decreases downwards. The other levels are knowledge, supposition and ignorance. Keywords: Competence, certain knowledge, the acquired propositional knowledge, demonstration, the elements of knowledge.