Human conception in Mu'tazilah: The case of Kadı Abdulcebbar

This study analyses the Mu'tazilites' conception of human being in the specific case of Qadi Abduljabbar. In the science of theology, the human being was not dealt with specifically, but was rather analyzed through other discussions. In particular, every discussion about God and the universe indirectly necessitated a discussion about human beings. In the early theological approaches, the Mu'tazilites dealt with the human being structurally in terms of those who accepted his nature and those who did not. In this regard, Qadi Abduljabbar adopts the thought of Abu al Hudayl, who does not accept the nature of man, while the traditions of al-Nazzam and al-Jahiz adopt that man has a nature. This study consists of an introduction and two main chapters. In the introduction part, the problem, purpose, importance and method of the thesis, as well as the general approaches to human in the Islamic thought system, especially the general characteristics of the theological, sufi, philosophical and jurisprudential approaches are briefly discussed in this section. In the first chapter, approaches on the essence of human being are analyzed. Qadi Abduljabbar's cosmological and ontological-based approaches include his justifications of what man is quantitatively. Under this heading, body, soul and dualist approaches to the structure of the human being are presented. Again, under the title of the first chapter, approaches on human intellect, senses and sensation are analyzed. In this section, Qadi Abduljabbar's thoughts on reason, nazar and knowledge also occupy an important place. The second part analyses the nature of man's knowing and acting on the basis of his freedom and responsibility from the perspective of Qadi Abdul Jabbar. The main argument of this chapter is the concept of 'absurdity'. While absurdity is explained as a situation or phenomenon that is not in accordance with its purpose, the nature of man and existence is tried to be explained in accordance with its purpose (non-absurd). Again, the concept that constitutes one of the most important pillars of this chapter is the offer, and the dynamics of the relationship between man and God are compiled in this manner. These dynamics lead to the existence of a moral human being surrounded by self-consciousness as a result of the debt of gratitude and thanksgiving for the favours that God has bestowed upon the being in accordance with His justice. As a result, the conception of the human being put forward by Kadı is an approach that emphasizes the body from a biological point of view, while from an epistemic point of view, it is an approach that emphasizes knowledge with the emphasis on reason, nazar and havatır. With the emphasis on human will and freedom, it is an approach that emphasizes morality.