Sophisticated/Well-Educated Person from Avicenna’s Perspective

Sophisticated/Well-Educated Person from Avicenna’s Perspective*   A. Sohbatloo** M.R. Aahanchiyaan, Ph.D.*** B. Sha’bani Varaki, Ph.D.**** A.R. Saadeghzaadeh Ghamsari, Ph.D.*****   A basic question asked by many philosophers has been about the criteria by which a person’s sophistication is measured and the characteristics by which a sophisticated/well educated person is identified. Given the prominence of AbooAli Sinaa (Avicenna), the present paper is aimed at identifying such criteria from his perspective. To this end, all his writings in Farsi, along with all the original works written on his philosophical thoughts were content analyzed. Findings indicate that the concept of sophistication is considered by him alongside other concepts such as God as the creator of the universe, causality as the dominance system, and teleology. Epistemologically he views a sophisticated person within the realm of universe, having a will and variable ethics. Anthropologically, he thinks of a well-educated person as one who is social, wise, and possesses spiritual originality. Such descriptions set aside Avicenna from other philosophers. The root of this distinction lies in his view of the universe, the essence of human, and the relationship between God and human. Overall, a sophisticated human is one who believes in God, is healthy, rational, and moral, seeks knowledge and is knowledgeable, and has a job. Keywords: philosophical foundations of education, well-educated/sophisticated human, Avicenna _______________________ Date received: Jul. 13, 2016                     Date accepted: Jul. 10, 2017 * Extracted from a doctoral dissertation in Philosophy of Education, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. ** Doctoral Student in Philosophy of Education, Ferdowsi University of [email protected] *** Professor of Philosophy of Education,  Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Correspoding Author). [email protected] **** Professor of Philosophy of Education,  Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. [email protected] ***** Associate Professor of Philosophy of Education, Tarbiat Modares University. [email protected]