Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences held its first Faculty Seminar of the 2022-2023 Fall Semester. At the event held in the Socrates Hall of the South Campus E Block, Prof. Dr. Sırrı Akbaba from the Department of Psychology gave a speech titled 'Ibn-i Sina's Scientific Approach'. In the event, which was followed with great interest by students, Prof. Akbaba made remarkable statements about Ibn-i Sina's importance in the history of philosophy.
Ibn-i Sina's Importance in the History of Philosophy Highlighted
At the beginning of the seminar, Akbaba, speaking about Ibn-i Sina's place and importance in the history of philosophy, emphasized the philosopher's approach of integrating science and philosophy. Akbaba stated that in his book 'Knowing Oneself,' he addressed fundamental philosophical issues such as existence and identity. He conveyed that by asking questions like 'who am I, who is human' in his work, he aimed to contribute to understanding the subjective aspects of humanity.
'Ibn-i Sina Considers Psychology as a Natural Science'
Continuing his speech by discussing the connections between Ibn-i Sina's thought and the science of psychology, Akbaba stated that the thinker regarded psychology as a natural science. Akbaba conveyed that in Ibn-i Sina's approach, which prioritizes reason, the idea of 'self' is a product of reason and is inherently present in humans. Akbaba said: 'What we call 'self' does not need to be treated as distinct from the body, which is a substance (essence), as a physical object. While 'self' is the subject of metaphysics, the body is the subject of physics. In the philosopher's thought, it is accepted that humans, unlike animals who share common senses, can acquire knowledge through reason, thereby escaping the deceptiveness of the senses.'
The Relationship Between the Concepts of 'Perfect Human' and 'Self-Actualization' Was Discussed
Finally, in his speech, Akbaba touched upon the connections between Ibn-i Sina's thought and modern thinkers, referring to the similarity between the philosopher's concept of 'Perfect Human' and Maslow's concept of 'self-actualization'. Akbaba pointed out that ideas emerging in the field of positive psychology today also draw inspiration from Ibn-i Sina's thoughts, and he answered questions from the audience.