Metaphysics Or Ilm Al-Ilahî On Kâtip Çelebi

Katib Celebi is one of the most important representatives of 17th century Islamic thought. Because he is concerned about philosophical sciences in addition to religious sciences. He also claimed that philosophy was removed from education. Therefore, this study focuses on Katip Celebi's metaphysics thought centring his famous work ‘Keşfüzzünun’ as the starting point. As it is known, metaphysics is one of the theoretical sciences of the philosophy. Therefore, it is impossible to handle metaphysics independently. Also metaphysics comes after physics education. So its name is metaphysics. Our author, Katip Celebi, separates Aristotle's Metaphysica, and Plotinus's Theologiae. While describing wisdom science he names it, theologiae (ilm-i ilâhî) and universal knowledge (ilm-i küllî) and first philosophy (felsefe-i ûlâ). He usually uses the concepts ‘the first philosophy (al-falsafa al-ûlâ)’, ‘ilm al-ilâhî’ and its plural form ‘al-ilâhiyyât’ for metaphysics. According to Celebi ilm al-ilâhî investigates being qua being. Celebi's classification of philosophy is an Aristotelian classification in essence. Celebi's source is Tasköprüzade and Ibn Sina. With a historical perspective Celebi began the philosophy with the Greek philosophers. He states that it is transferred to Islam through translations. He exposes its presence in Islam in three periods. In the third period after Ibn Rushd, that is after Fahr al-Razi, continues two metaphysical lines/traditions. First of them is synthesis line (ilm al-Kalam), second one is summarized line (talhîs) of theoretical sciences of philosophy. Theoretical philosophy is important for our author. Because theoretical philosophy led theology to the status of sciences. Also the philosophy brings Ottoman ulema in reputation. As a clerk, Celebi dealt with theoretical philosophy of science especially with Geography is the sub-discipline of astronomy (ilm al-hay’at) and eventually reached two truths about philosophy.

Keywords

Kâtip Çelebi, metaphysica, prote philosophy, teologia, İslamic philosophy, wisdom.