This study, investigates the concept of the ‘self’ within the thought system of Avicenna,
one of the founding philosophers of the Islamic philosophical tradition, treating it as a
fundamental existential problematic rather than a mere psychological faculty. The existential
characterization here in aims to explain that self-consciousness, which manifests
in the ontological, psychological, and epistemological aspects of man as a concrete
being, is the constitutive principle building the truth of human existence, rather than
referring to contemporary existentialist philosophy. To achieve this goal, the historical
and conceptual origins of the problem of the self are first examined within a broad perspective,
ranging from the Miletus natural philosophers to Platonic dualism, the Aristotelian
hylomorphic conception of the soul, and the Plotinian metaphysics of emanation.
Through the presentation of this historical background, it is demonstrated how Avicenna
reached an original synthesis by blending the Greek heritage he inherited with the early
Islamic thought. Subsequently, the ontological position of man, existing as a temporal
being in the world of generation and corruption, is determined based on metaphysical
foundations. Following this, through an investigation into the quiddity of the soul as an
abstract substance, it is proven that the soul possesses a substantial unity independent
of its attachment to the body. In this context, by holistically presenting how Avicenna
established the soul-body relationship along the axes of spirit and heart, and how the
soul’s attachment to the body, its individuation, and its perfection take place, the study
identifies how he transformed the doctrine of the soul inherited from the Ancient Greek
heritage and provided original contributions. Thereby, it is established that the self is not
merely a biological or psychological faculty, but a fundamental basis that constructs the
ontological reality of man.
Keywords: Avicenna; Self; Soul; İntellect; Flying Man; Self-Consciousness; Perfection