Mind and reality: A study on the limits of human intellect in Avicenna's philosophy

Avicenna (d. 428/1037), who attempted to rewrite the Aristotelian philosophy in Arabic, conducted a comprehensive inquiry into the soul (psykhê) in al-Shifā/Kitāb al-Nafs, owing to the legacy he inherited. After an investigation into the definition of the soul and its activities, this inquiry has taken up the question about the role of the active intellect (nous poiêtikos). In order to prevent the inquiry into the soul from remaining open ended, it is important to determine the limits of the relationship between the human intellect and the active intellect. This study aims to answer the question of how Avicenna consistently establishes the relation between the human intellect and the active intellect by referring to passages of al-Shifā/Kitāb al-Burhān that focus on the distance between the mind and reality