Note on Transliteration

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Determinism: the problem and some historical aspects

Contemporary scholarship on Avicenna and Averroes with reference to the issue of determinism

Synopsis

Chapter One Avicenna on chance

Introduction: chance and causality

Chance and the frequency of events

Chance and evil

Conclusion

Chapter Two Avicenna on matter

Introduction: the relation between matter and chance

Matter and the material cause

Matter and the material compound. Prime Matter

Origin and preparation of matter

Matter and desire

Conclusion

Chapter Three Avicenna on celestial causation and providence

The necessary and the possible

Emanation

Causation in the supernal world: desire

Divine providence

God's decree and determination: al-qadà' wa-l-qadar

Conclusion

Chapter Four Averroes on chance

Introduction

Chance and the frequency of events

Chance: between the efficient and the final cause

Averroes' criticism of ancients schools and of Avicenna concerning chance

Conclusion

Chapter Five Averroes on matter and necessity

Matter and potentiality, privation and desire

Necessity and possibility

Averroes versus Avicenna on necessary and possible beings

Conclusion

Chapter Six Averroes on celestial causation and providence

Introduction

Emanation, final causation and creation

Providence, evil and God's decree and determination

Conclusion

Conclusion

Bibliography

General Index

Index of Main Passages