Arabic Ibn S 012B; n 0101; in full Ab 016B; 02BE; Al 012B; al- 1E24; usayn ibn 02BD; Abd All 0101; h ibn S 012B; n 0101;
born 980, Bukhara, Iran
died 1037, Hamadan
Islamic philosopher and scientist.
He became physician to several sultans and also twice served as vizier. His Canon of Medicine was long a standard work in the field. He is known for his great encyclopaedia of philosophy, The Book of Healing . His other writings include The Book of Salvation and The Book of Directives and Remarks . His interpretations of Aristotle influenced European Scholasticism . His system rests on a conception of God as the necessary existent: only in God do essence (what God is) and existence (that God is) coincide.