The meaning of life in the works of Ibn Sinā

Abstract

This paper examines an exploration of the meaning of life, focusing on the philosophical insights of Islamic philosopher Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna). While Ibn Sīnā’s works do not ex­plicitly mention the concept of the meaning of life, his discussions on happiness and well-being closely relate to such a fundamental existential inquiry as the goal of life. In his philosophical works, well-being is introduced as an inherently desirable and ulti­mate purpose of pleasures, considering it a necessary and sufficient condition for life to become meaningful. Ibn Sīnā proposes that life derives meaning from alignment with the ultimate truth, transcending subjective perceptions. In terms of attaining the real meaning of life, Ibn Sīnā believes that true fulfillment is achieved through a harmonious relationship with the Divine, with love serving as the driving force towards ultimate per­fection. This research aims to analyze the meaning of life in Ibn Sīnā’s works and explore how to attain it.