The Reflection of Aesthetics in the Thought of Ibn Miskawayh

Abstract

It cannot be said that Ibn Miskawayh (d. 421/1030) who lived in the 11th century, systematically addressed the fundamental issues of aesthetics and philosophy of art. But he dealt with aesthetic experience and beauty as a problem. He regards the basic characters of the aesthetic experience as unity. The unity is the nature of the divine and purpose of seeking harmony, proportion and rhythm in the physical world is to approach this unity. According to him, the beauty is an objective concept and the thing that is beautiful is determined in the triangle of soul-nature-matter. What makes something beautiful is the harmony between the soul that reflects the divine and the sufficiency of the substance which has an ability to take it. When the artist processes the appropriate thing for the soul on the matter then the completeness arises. The completeness is the product of the relationship between theory and practice, each of them completes the other. Ibn Miskawayh also analyzes music and poetry in his work, and he thinks that music is the closest experience to reach the divine. The experience which is obtained through music is more influential than any other arts. In his view, music is related to the unity and the cosmic order. He has a prudent approach to poetry because he draws attention to the fact that the poetry uses tricks which irritate direct the soul.