The central thesis of this paper is that something exists if and only if it is causally connected to me. Using this as a means to find an answer to the question of what it means to exist, the...Show moreThe central thesis of this paper is that something exists if and only if it is causally connected to me. Using this as a means to find an answer to the question of what it means to exist, the thesis is treated as a principle, which sets up a specific, unorthodox kind of defense. Following a Kantian line of thinking, this principle is first interpreted, then and compared to alternatives, upon which finally the specific, concrete implications of its truth are explained. This leads not only to a clear understanding of existence as defined by a causal connection to us, but also a specific understanding of the nature of principles and their proper philosophical application.Show less
The following dissertation discusses the concept of Dualism in Avicenna’s philosophy of the self. This discussion is divided in an attempt to question the self, the self in regards to materiality,...Show moreThe following dissertation discusses the concept of Dualism in Avicenna’s philosophy of the self. This discussion is divided in an attempt to question the self, the self in regards to materiality, and the position of the self in the cosmos. More significantly, the dissertation attempts to develop these concepts by explaining the concept of awareness. In this dissertation, it is found that self-awareness is a universal concept however limited by the human mind. Yet, humans can be enlightened when they understand the dualistic relationship between extramental objects and the self. The dissertation further investigates this complex structure and the relevance thereof in current times.Show less
