Functions of 'A'yān-i Thabita and Archetypes in the Thought of Ibn Arabi and Jung: Comparative Study

"A'yān-i-Thābita" ("the Eternal Essences of Things") and "archetypes" are two fundamental terms in two different intellectual systems. Ibn Al-Arabi by a mystical approach and Jung by an analytical approach use the terms "A'yān-i-Thabita" and "archetypes" and attribute some characteristics and functions to them. This article tries to find an answer to the question about the differences and similarities between the characteristics and functions of "A'yān-i-Thabita" and "archetypes" in the viewpoint of Ibn Al-Arabi and Jung. This study shows that both thinkers believe in the existence of the basic ideas in cognition and do not consider the soul/psyche empty. Ibn Al-Arabi considers these ideas as the eternal essences of things, rationales in divine knowledge, which have existential ability manifested by the creative imagination. But Jung considers archetypes, for example the archetype of self or God, as the primary images emerge from human instinct reflected in religious and mythical symbols. Consequently, Ibn Al-Arabi deals with "God" but Jung studies "the idea of God".