Avicenna on Potential Knowledge

Distinguishing between potentiality and actuality, Aristotle solved many contradictions among past philosophies. Avicenna used this distinction to solve some epistemic problems. He introduces the term potential knowledge whose instances we can find in his philosophical works. Knowledge of the implicit conclusion in the premises, knowledge of some logical rules, knowledge of the interior parts of a quiddity, knowledge of the self-justified propositions, knowledge of reasoning, and self-awareness are instances of potential knowledge in Avicenna’s philosophical works. The instances of potential knowledge have two criteria in common. First, we have them in our inside existence; so we need nothing for making them actual but mental intention or mental intention accompanied with inner contemplation. Second, all these instances are implicit implications of a more general knowledge. As the knowledge of reasoning and self-awareness need only inner contemplation to become actual, they are more actual than the other instances; so the potential knowledge is gradational.