Theology and Science
   Publisher:   Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group  
   Issue:   Volume 2, Number 2 / October 2004  
Pages:   255 - 268  
   
Al-Ghazali's Use of the Terms "Necessity" and "Habit" in his Theory of Natural Causality


Sobhi Rayan 

Abstract: 


The present article aims at analyzing the terms "necessity" (Al-darura) and "habit" (al-Āda) in al-Ghazali's (1058 - 1111) theory of natural causality (Al-SbĀbiah al-Tabī'īa) by answering the following question: Why does Al-Ghazali use term "habit" and negation of "necessity" with regard to natural Causality? Al-Ghazali denies causal necessity that links cause and effect since this relationship does not draw on logical rules that make it necessary. This, however, does not mean that he denies the existence of a causal relationship between things, as he recognizes its existence. He, however, denies the necessity of that relationship, as he claims that the source of causal necessity stems from a psychological emotion rather than from being inherent in things themselves. Al-Ghazali also attempts to base causal necessity on "habit" by claiming that the similarity of event A as cause and event B as effect stems from observation, repetition and the sequencing of natural phenomena. Al-Ghazali, then, endeavors to prove that science is based on expectation and assumption that draws on observation, the senses, and repetition and does not consider it as constant and absolute.


Keywords: 

Al-Ghazali, Divine Action, Causality, Necessity