Conception of Human in Rene Descartes and Erzurumlu Ibrahim Hakki’s Thought

Humeyra Konuk

ABSTRACT

The human nature was an inquiry in every civilization and therefore part in many philosophers’ theories. This study aims to show the similarities between Descartes and Erzurumlu İbrahim Hakkı’s thought on the human nature with respecting their differences. With referring to the main works of the thinkers, which are Meditations and Marifetname, we outlined how they define body and soul, the interaction of both and the connection to God. As outlined in subheadings, three main topics which both philosophers have discussed are the distinction of body and soul, the union of body and soul and the mark of truth. Both philosophers accept a distinction between body and soul. While Descartes advocates a sharp body-soul dualism and refuses that the soul could control the body, Erzurumlu İbrahim Hakkı argues that the soul, in particular its special part called gönül controls the body. Descartes’ belief in dualism does not hinder him to argue also for a union of body and soul because he asserts that the body and soul cannot control one another but they can unite. About the connection to God, Descartes sees the thought of perfection in the human mind as a mark by God who makes himself known, because perfection cannot be attained by humans. For Erzurumlu İbrahim Hakkı, it is gönül with which the human connects with God.