[The Possibility of Mind-Body Interaction in Kindi]

Abstract: The chief purpose of this essay is to explain Kindi’s view of mind-body interaction. By this study, we hope to clarify his ideas on the ontological structure of the universe, casual laws of the universe and the nature of mind. Kindi thinks that the mind and the body have seperate ontological statues. In this regard, Kindi encounters a problem that contains the basic question faced by the düalist theories of mind: “How do mind and body having seperate ontological status interact?” Hence, it is seen that Kindi uses “the law mental causation” as well as the law of physical causation. The law of mental causality does not make trouble as long as it takes place outside the physical universe. Therefore, the ontological structure of the universe must be shown. Kindi thinks that the universe is physically divided into two parts as “the sublunary and celestial” and there is another ontological dimension in which there is immaterial reality beyond the physical universe. The place of mental causality is this ontological dimension beyond the physical world. Besides, mental causality in all living creatures will be indicated since according to Kindi, living creatures are not limited to human beings