Theory of Knowledge To AL- Kindi

Abstract

Its right that theory of Knowledge as a term is first used by John Lock , but this does not mean that the topics of this filed are not viewed and discussed by other Greek , Islamic and Christian philosophers before him . These to topics were discussed before under the term Epistemology, or Knowledge . In the title of this study we used the terms theory of Knowledge to AL Kindi only to mean that Al Kindi discussed many subjects in his philosophical letters related to his field , for example , The sensory Knowledge, The empirical Knowledge and the rational Knowledge but the did not use the same term which is firstly used by John Lock, Al Kindi integrated between the sensory and Rational forces as two important sources for Knowledge in addition to the imaginary forces the mediates between the two . He belives in the possibility of Knowing that is why to him man is a knowing being who interacts with that he knows . There fore he emphasize that Knowledge he is Acquired since man has interaction with the world around him , i.e. The subject of Knowledge . He also deals with Knowledge tools and discusses its soursses which he thinks as philosophical and Religious sciences and who he Differentiates between these two sources in Distinguishing between the prophet Knowledge and the philosopher's in an attempt to reconciliate between philosophy and Religion . Philosophy provides us with rational Knowledge where Religion provides us with what is beyond reason . What makes us believe in what is beyond Reason is the strong convincing ways used by prophets . Al Kindi thinks that mean's Knowledge is limited and human beings are of Different Leveis of Knowledge because their senses are different in strength and weakness , it is also true that their imaginary forces in showing ability to think , metaphysical issues and Recalling ideas in the end, human beings are different in souls purity and the more they are pure the more they are able in anticipating future and their dream visions become true . Al though AL Kindi described As philosopher of reason , he believes that reason itself is variant from one person to an other and it is unable to understand some essential Religious issues such as existence and non existence or whether things happened or not , or the Existence of things after their no – Existence ! that is why we find that he also depends on some evidence taken from the Holy Qur'an . He uses Reason incertain crucial issues like proving the Existence of the AL mighty Allah and how he exists through his creation – Human beings there are different in their understanding of Religion too . Finally , AL Kindi stands for the idea that human beings are different in their knowledge of All aspects and the Reason behind that returns to AL mighty ALah through some natural factors like stars and how they affect the climate on earth such as heat , coldness and moderate weather , these climate changes affect human beings . Too in terms of their ability of knowledge that is why people who live in moderate regions are move able to think meditate , and know better than those who live in other region . As a result , AlKindi classifies human beings in to four groups :1-Prophets 2- Divine philosophers whe have Sufism tendency .3- Religious man . 4- Ordinary people .