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E R N S T B L O C H ,

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A V IC E N N Ä ■ . '

U N D • •

D IE A R IS T O T E L IS C H E L IN K E

R Ü T T E N & L O E N I N G

B E R L IN
N o n si vo lta ch i a stella è fisso.
D e r a n e in e n S te rn G e b u n d e n e

k e h r t n ic h t u m .

Leonardo d a V inci
IN H A L T

N ie d a s g l e i c h e ................................................ 9

M e r k - u n d G e d e n k p u n k t ................................ 9

H a n d e ls s tä d te u n d h e lle n is tis c h e r B o d e n . . . 12

V e rs c h ie d e n e s V e r h ä ltn is d e s W iss e n s z u m
G l a u b e n ............................ 17

D er L ebende, Sohn d e s W a c h e n d e n , G o t t a ls
H i m m e l s k ö r p e r .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 5

A ris to te le s -A v ic e n n a u n d d ie E s s e n z e n d e s
D i e s s e i t s ............................... 30

E in f lu ß A v ic e n n a s a u f T h o m a s u n d d a s G e g e n te il 47

E in f lu ß d e r A r is to te lis c h e n L in k e n a u f d ie A n ti-
K ir c h e .......................................................... 50

D ie a u f M o r a l g e b r a c h t e R e l i g i o n .................... 5 7

A ris to te le s u n d d ie n ic h t-m e c h a n is c h e M a te r ie 64

V e r w a n d lu n g d e s A r is to te le s d u r c h s e in e L in k e ,
V e r w a n d lu n g d ie s e r L in k e n s e l b e r ................. 65

K u n s t , d ie S to f f - F o r m e n t b i n d e n d .................... 7 2

T e x ts te lle n u n d E r l ä u t e r u n g e n ........................... 7 7

7
N ie das gleiche

A lle s G e s c h e it e m a g s c h o n s ie b e n m a l g e d a c h t
w o r d e n s e in . A b e r w e n n es w ie d e r g e d a c h t w u r d e ,
in a n d e r e r Z e it u n d L a g e , w a r e s n ic h t m e h r d a s ­
s e lb e . N i c h t n u r s e in D e n k e r , s o n d e r n v o r a l le m
das zu B e d e n k e n d e h a t s ic h u n te r d e s g e ä n d e r t.
D a s G e s c h e ite h a t s ic h d a r a n n e u u n d s e lb e r a ls
N e u e s z u b e w ä h r e n . W a s b e s o n d e r s fo lg e n r e ic h
b e i d e n g r o ß e n m o r g e n lä n d is c h e n D e n k e r n d e r
F a ll w ar. S ie h a b e n d a s g r ie c h is c h e L ic h t z u ­
g le ic h g e r e tte t u n d v e r w a n d e lt.

M e r k - und G edenkpunkt

E in e r d e r f r ü h e s te n u n d g rö ß te n d ie s e r D e n k e r
w ar Ib n S in a , la tin is ie r t A v ic e n n a . G e b o r e n 9 8 0
in A fc h a n a b e i B u c h a ra , g e h ö rt e r d e m ta d s c h ik i-
s c h e n V o lk a n . A b u A li a l - H u s s e i n i b n A b d a ll a h
ib n S in a s ta m m te a u s e in e m r e ic h e n H a u s , s e in e
E lte r n h a t t e n d e m K n a b e n e in e s o r g f ä ltig e E r z ie ­
h u n g z u te il w e r d e n la s s e n , s e in e F rü h re ife w a r
gesu nd. S ie e n t s p r a c h je n e r b e s t i m m t e n B ega­
b u n g , d ie s ic h b e iz e ite n a u f m a c h t, u m ih r e n k la r

- ij
gesehenen W eg z u gehen. In A rith m e tik , G eo ­
m e trie , L o g ik und A s tro n o m ie w ohl u n te r ­
w ie s e n , b e z o g I b n S in a d ie U n iv e rs itä t B ag d ad ,
w o e r P h ilo s o p h ie und M e d iz in s tu d ie rte . Im
a c h t z e h n t e n J a h r w a r e r f a h i g , p o l i tis c h e G e s c h ä f te
und d ie A rz n e iw is s e n s c h a ft z u g le ic h z u b e tre i­
b e n . E r w a r s p ä te r W e s ir d e s F ü r s te n v o n H a m a -
d a n ( d e m a n t i k e n E k b a t a n a ) , t r a t d a n n in D ie n s te
des F ü rs te n v o n Isp a h a n und k e h rte , n ac h d em
d u r c h d ie s e n H a m a d a n e r o b e r t w o rd e n w a r, d a ­
h in z u r ü c k . E b e n s o a b e r h a t t e e r , m i t e in e r g lü c k ­
lic h e n K ur am Sohn d e s B a g d a d e r K a life n b e ­
g in n e n d , f r ü h e n m e d iz in is c h e n R u h m e rw o rb e n
u n d m it ih m g ro ß e R e ic h tü m e r. D ie F e in d e , an
d e n e n es I b n S in a v o n A n fa n g a n i n d e n K re ise n
d e r G e is tlic h k e it n ic h t f e h lte , g e b e n a n , e r h a b e
s ic h h ie r b e i im Ü b e r m a ß d e r L ie b e u n d d e m W e in
e r g e b e n ; w a s , w e n n es d e r F a ll w a r , d a s B ild e in e r
s ta r k e n N a t u r e r g ä n z t. S e in w a h r e s Ü b e r m a ß is t
das des a u s g e d e h n te n W e rk s , n e u n u n d n e u n z ig
S c h r if te n h a t A v ic e n n a h in te r la s s e n . I n A rz n e i­
k u n s t u n d P h ilo s o p h ie g le ic h e rfa h re n , s c h rie b
A v ic e n n a d e n b e rü h m te n K anon der M e d iz in ,
w e lc h e r d u r c h v ie le J a h r h u n d e r te im O r ie n t w ie
im A b e n d la n d a ls G ru n d b u c h der H e ilk u n d e
g a lt. S e in p h ilo s o p h is c h e s H a u p tw e r k tr ä g t d e n
b e z e ic h n e n d e n T i te l : K ita b a s - s if a , B u c h d e r G e ­
n e s u n g ; s o ü b e r tr ä g t e s d ie H e ilu n g u n d L e itu n g
d e s K ö r p e r s a u f d ie d e s V e r s ta n d s . D a s B u c h d e r
G e n e s u n g i s t e in e E n z y k lo p ä d ie , d ie in a c h tz e h n

io
B ü c h e rn v ie r H a u p tw is s e n s c h a f te n b e h a n d e lt:
L o g ik , P h y s ik , M a th e m a tik und M e ta p h y s ik .
L a te in is c h (zu m T e il s c h o n in Ü b e rs e tz u n g e n
aus d em e lf te n u n d z w ö lf te n J a h r h u n d e r t) lie g e n
v o r: „ C o m p e n d iu m d e a n im a “ , „ D e A lm a h a d “ ,
„ A p h o ris m i de a n im a “ , „ T r a c ta tu s de d e fin i-
tio n ib u s e t q u a e s itis “ , „ D e d iv is io n ib u s s c ie n -
tia r u m " s o w ie d ie T r a k ta te „ M e ta p h y s ik a “ . V e r ­
lo re n g e g a n g e n und nur aus H in w e is e n s p ä te ­
r e r P h ilo s o p h e n z u g e r in g e m T e i l b e k a n n t is t d ie
w o h l a m m e is te n u n o r th o d o x e S c h r if t A v ic e n n a s ,
d ie „ P h ilo s o p h ia o r ie n ta lis “ . E b e n s o im o r th o d o x
( w e il aus S p ra c h g rü n d e n nur e in e m k le in e n
L e s e rk re is z u g ä n g lic h ) is t d ie in e in e m frü h e n
T a d s c h ik is c h v e r f a ß te z w e ib ä n d ig e E n z y k lo p ä d ie
„ D a n is h -N a m e h “ (B u ch des W isse n s), d ie
1 9 3 7 /3 8 i n T e h e r a n h e r a u s g e g e b e n w u r d e (v g l.
d arü b e r B o g u td in o w in d e r s o w je tis c h e n Z e it­
s c h r if t „ W o p r o s y p h ilo s o p h ii“ 3 /1 9 4 8 , S . 3 5 8 ff).
G e s t o r b e n i s t A v ic e n n a 1 0 3 7 in I s p a h a n , s e in G r a b
lie g t in H a m a d a n , w o e s n o c h h e u te g e z e ig t w ird .
D o rt in H a m a d a n w ir d i n d ie s e n T a g e n , g e m ä ß
d e m A u f r u f d e s ir a n is c h e n F r ie d e n s k o m ite e s , d ie
G e d e n k fe ie r d e s g ro ß e n P h ilo s o p h e n b e g a n g e n ,
d e r b r e it u n d p ro g re s s iv d e r G e s a m tk u ltu r V o r d e r ­
a s ie n s m i t ir a n i s c h - a r a b is c h e m G la n z z u g e h ö rt.
D e r ta u s e n d jä h r ig e G e b u r ts ta g r e im t s ic h a lle r ­
d in g s m it d e r e u ro p ä is c h e n Z e itr e c h n u n g n ic h t,
d o c h g e n a u m it d e r is la m is c h e n u n d ih r e m M o n d ­
ja h r. U n d a u c h d ie e u r o p ä is c h e C h r o n o lo g ie is t

1 1
lä n g s t d a z u v e r p f lic h te t, s ic h d e r o r ie n ta lis c h e n
S c h o la s tik g e n a u e r a ls b i s h e r z u e r in n e r n . D e n n
d ie s e is t - in w e itg e h e n d e m U n te rs c h ie d zur
a b e n d lä n d is c h e n - e in e s d e r Q u e llg e b ie te u n s e re r
A u f k lä r u n g , u n d v o r a lle m , w ie m a n s e h e n w ird ,
e in e r höchst e ig e n tü m lic h e n m a te ria lis tis c h e n
L e b e n d ig k e it, e in e r a u s A r is to te le s im c h r is tlic h
h e ra u s e n tw ic k e lte n . E s g ib t e in e L in ie , d ie v o n
A ris to te le s n ic h t zu T hom as fü h rt und zum
G e is t d e s J e n s e its , s o n d e r n z u G io rd a n o B ru n o
und der b lü h e n d e n A l l m a t e r i e . E b e n A v i c e n n a
is t in d ie s e r L in ie e in e r der e rs te n u n d w ic h ­
tig s te n M e rk p u n k te , z u s a m m e n m it A v e rro e s;
den G e d e n k ta g d ie s e s M e rk p u n k ts g ilt es zu
b e g re ife n .

H a n d e ls s tä d te u n d h e lle n istisc h e r B o d e n

Ib n S in a w a r A r z t, e r i s t k e i n M ö n c h g e w e s e n .
S o w e n ig w ie d ie an d e re n b e d e u te n d e n is la m i­
sch en D e n k e r , s ie l e b t e n w e ltlic h und d a c h te n
n a tu r w is s e n s c h a f tlic h . J a , d ie g e s a m te is la m is c h e
G e s e lls c h a f t is t tr o tz ih r e r f e u d a le n F o r m e n u n d
tr o tz d e s g e is tlic h e n K r ie g s f e u e r s n a c h e in e m a n ­
d e r n G e s e tz a n g e tr e te n a ls d ie e u r o p ä is c h - m itte l­
a l t e r l i c h e . S ie w a r e i n e i n i h r e r A r t f r ü h b ü r g e r ­
lic h e G e s e lls c h a f t m it r e s tlic h e r C la n v e r f a s s u n g ,
d e r g e s ta lt, d a ß in i h r d a s H a n d e ls k a p ita l h e r r s c h te

1 2
und d e n w e s e n tlic h e n A n tr ie b g a b . M e k k a , d ie
G e b u rts s tä tte des Is la m , w a r e in a lte r g ro ß e r
H a n d e ls p la tz , e in e r d e r S ta p e lp lä tz e f ü r d e n V e r ­
k e h r A r a b ie n s , P e r s ie n s , I n d ie n s m it d e n L ä n ­
d ern des M itte lm e e r s . U nd d ie A r a b e r le b te n
schon la n g e vor M oham m ed n u r zu g e rin g e m
T e il a ls s c h w e ife n d e W ü s te n s tä m m e ; es gab
s e it a lte r s a c k e r b a u tr e ib e n d e B e d u in e n , u n d d ie
K a ra w a n e n v e rb in d e n M ä rk te . D em M a rk t­
z e n tru m M ekka (M o h a m m e d s e lb e r h a tte ja
in e in e der m ä c h tig s te n K a u f m a n n s f a m ilie n
e in g e h e ir a te t) g in g e n i n d e r r ö m is c h e n Z e it d ie
a ra b is c h b e v ö lk e rte n H a n d e ls p lä tz e P e tra und
B o s tr a v o r a n . U n d w e n ig e J a h r e n a c h M o h a m ­
m eds T o d g r ü n d e te d e r K a lif O m a r d ie R e e d e
B a s ra , b r a c h te d a m it d ie g e s a m te S c h iff a h rt a u f
d e m p e rs is c h e n M e e rb u s e n u n te r a ra b isc h e n E in ­
f lu ß . M an k a n n so c u m g r a n o s a lis s a g e n : D ie
a r a b is c h e G e s e lls c h a f t h a tte ih r e V e n e d ig s u n d
M a ila n d s f ü n f h u n d e r t J a h r e f r ü h e r . Z u r g le ic h e n
Z e i t, w o d a s e h e m a l s r ö m i s c h e E u r o p a f a s t v ö llig
re a g rie rt w a r , s ie g te das H a n d e ls k a p ita l, d ie s e
ä lte s te f r e ie E x is te n z w e is e d e s K a p ita ls , im O r ie n t.
E ro b e rn d d ra n g es in n ic h t g a n z h u n d e rt J a h re n
n a c h d e r H e d s c h r a w e s tlic h n a c h S p a n ie n , ö s tlic h
b is I n d i e n v o r . A b e r d ie a ra b is c h e n R itte r , d e r
h e ilig e K rie g s e lb e r? - s ie w a r e n F u n k tio n ä re
S in d b a d d e s S e e f a h r e r s . S o g a n z a n d e r s a ls d a s
e u r o p ä is c h e F r ü h m itte la lte r is t m ith in d a s a r a b i­
sch e b a s ie rt, a u f w e ltfa h re n d e K a u fle u te , auf

13
b lü h e n d e W a re n e rz e u g u n g , re ic h e n W a re n u m ­
la u f, s ta tt a u f H a lb w ild n is u n d B u r g e n , g e rin g e
S tä d te und K lö s te r. D e ra rt b ra n n te in d e r d a ­
m a lig e n a ra b is c h e n W e lt n ic h t n u r eher L ic h t
a ls in F ra n k is ta n , e s b r a n n te d o r t a u c h e in b e ­
w e g lic h e r e s L ic h t a ls das s p ä te re d e r e u ro p ä i­
schen K lo s te rs c h u le n und der d arau s e n ts ta n ­
d e n e n U n iv e rs itä te n .
H in z u tra t, d a ß n e b e n H andel und W a n d e l das
B u c h e in h e im is c h w a r. N o c h s ta n d , d u r c h k e in e
V ö lk e rw a n d e ru n g u n te r b r o c h e n , e in e re ic h e s p ä t­
a n tik e T ra d itio n . I n S y r ie n h a t t e s ie s ic h a m le ­
b e n d ig s te n e rh a lte n , ohne b y z a n tin is c h e V er­
s te ifu n g u n d tr a n s z e n d e n te S tr e n g e ; J a m b lic h o s ,
der e ifrig s te n e u p la to n is c h e D enker der a lte n
G ö tte r, w a r e in S y re r. S y ris c h e C h ris te n w a re n
s c h o n la n g e v o r d e r Z e it M o h a m m e d s a ls Ä r z te
tä tig s o w ie , in der e rs te n is la m is c h e n Z e it, a ls
Ü b e rs e tz e r g rie c h is c h e r P h ilo s o p h e n in s A ra b i­
s c h e . U n ü b e r s e h b a r i s t f e r n e r d ie B e r ü h r u n g d e s
A ra b e rtu m s m it d e r ira n is c h e n L ic h tv e re h ru n g ,
m it d e r G e is te s f r e ih e it, d ie d a s b ä u e r lic h - r itte r ­
lic h e P e r s ie n so la n g e a u s g e z e ic h n e t h a tte und
d ie in d e r B e ru fu n g d e r le tz te n , v o n J u s tin ia n
v e rtrie b e n e n g rie c h is c h e n P h ilo s o p h e n d u rc h
den S a s sa n id e n C h o s ru I . e in e n e p a ta n te n A u s ­
d ru c k fa n d . W a r a u c h d ie s e G e is te s fre ih e it d o r t
s e h r z u rü c k g e g a n g e n , h a tte s ic h g e ra d e C h o sru
a ls U n te rd rü c k e r der n a tu ra lis tis c h -k o m m u ­
n is tis c h e n S e k te n s e in e n th e o lo g is c h e n N am en

t4
g e m a c h t (d e n N a m e n N u s c h irw a n , d e r U n s te r b ­
lic h e ) , hat auch im neuen P e rs e rre ic h , b is zu
s e in e r I s la m is ie r u n g , e in P r ie s te r s ta n d g e h e r r s c h t
w ie n i e z u v o r , m i t w ü s te m A b e r g la u b e n , s t a r r e m
R i t u a l : s o w ir k te d o c h d ie r a u c h v e r z e h r e n d e K r a f t
* d e r a lte n ira n is c h e n L ic h tre lig io n n a c h u n d der
G la u b e , d a ß d e r M e n s c h d u r c h tä tig e V e r n u n f t
und s o z ia le E i n r i c h t u n g e n d e m g u te n G e is t im
K a m p f m it d e m b ö s e n a m b e s te n z u H ilf e k o m ­
m en könne. G e ra d e B u c h a ra , in dessen N ähe
A v ic e n n a g e b o re n w a r, d a s B a g d a d u n te rs ta n d ,
g e h ö rte z u m c h o re s m is c h -ira n is c h e n K u ltu rk re is ,
u n d B a g d a d s e lb e r w u r d e s e it d e m a c h te n J a h r ­
h u n d e r t, u n te r d e m K a lif e n A l- M a n s u r , d ie v o r ­
n e h m s te S tä tte d e r V e r e in ig u n g a r a b is c h e r u n d
ira n is c h e r K u ltu r. So w ar d ie s e S ta d t e in e , in
d e r m a n m e h r k a n n te a ls d e n K o r a n , s ie b lü h te
a ls S it z d e r h ö c h s te n d a m a li g e n Z iv ilis a tio n w ie
e b e n a u c h e in e r P r ä v a le n z d e r w e lü ic h e n K u ltu r
gegenüber d e r v e r n u n f tf e in d lic h e n O r th o d o x ie .
D ie h ie r e n ts ta n d e n e f r e ig e is tig e G e s in n u n g w u r ­
d e d a n n in d e n f e r n e n W e s te n d e r g le ic h e n K u l­
tu r, n a c h C o rd o v a ü b e r tr a g e n . G a r P h ilo s o p h ie ,
w ie b e m e r k t , i s t k e in e s w e g s e i n e e x o t is c h e T r e i b ­
h a u s p f la n z e a u f is la m is c h e m B o d en , gen au d o rt
h a t t e s ie ja ih r e g r ie c h is c h - s y r is c h e T r a d i t i o n . D a s
a lle s m i t h i n e r k l ä r t u n d u m g i b t d i e E i g e n s c h a f t
der b e d e u te n d s te n is la m is c h e n D e n k e r: A rz t,
n ic h t M ö n c h , N a tu r a lis t, n ic h t T h e o lo g e z u s e in .
Im m itte la lte r lic h e n E u r o p a w a r e n P h ilo s o p h e n

i5
m it n a tu rw is s e n s c h a ftlic h e n N e ig u n g e n so s e lte n
w ie a n o r m a l ( R o g e r B a c o u n d A l b e r t u s M a g n u s
s in d f a s t d ie e in z ig e n ) , b e i d e n a r a b i s c h e n S c h o l a ­
s tik e r n s te h t e s u m g e k e h r t. D ie N a t u r w i s s e n s c h a f t ,
n ic h t d ie T h e o lo g ie ü b e r w ie g t in ih n e n a u c h d a n n ,
w enn s ie S u r e n d es K o ra n s in te r p r e tie r e n (w ie
A v ic e n n a s „ A lm a h a d “ z e ig t, w o e r , i n d e m e r d ie
S u re 3 6 in te rp re tie rt, d ie d o rt g e le h r te A u f e r s t e ­
h u n g d e r T o te n le u g n e t) . U n d w e l tlic h e W i s s e n ­
s c h a ft ü b e r h a u p t w a r d e r G la n z , m it d e m d i e H e r r ­
sch er des is la m is c h e n O s te n s w ie W e s t e n s , d ie
A b b a s id e n B a g d a d s w ie d ie O m a i j a d e n C o r d o v a s
ih r e M a c h t z u s c h m ü c k e n l i e b te n ; h i e r i n w a r d e r
K a lif k e in P a p s t. E rst v ie l s p ä te r, m it d e m
N ie d e r g a n g der h a n d e ls p o litis c h e n G ru n d la g e
der a ra b isc h e n G e s e lls c h a f t, begann d e r v e r­
n u n f tf e in d lic h e E in f lu ß der O rth o d o x ie . B is
d a h in g lä n z te n e b e n f a s t u n b e h i n d e r t e r B e n u t z u n g
und F o rtb ild u n g der „ h e id n is c h e n “ A n tik e
d as, w as R oger B aco ganz s o n d e rlic h an d e r
a r a b is c h e n W is s e n s c h a f t r ü h m t e : s ie s e i „ s c i e n -
tia e x p e r im c n ta lis “ . J a , A le x a n d e r v o n H u m b o l d t
g e h t so w e it, z u s a g e n , d ie A ra b e r s e ie n s c h l e c h t h i n
d ie E r f in d e r d e s ü b e r le g te n u n d g e z i e l t e n E x p e r i ­
m e n ts . W ie d e u tlic h a lso is t d ie G r u n d l a g e u n d
fo lg lic h d ie n ic h tk le r ik a lc D en k art der g ro ß e n
A r z t-P h ilo s o p h e n des is la m is c h e n M itte la lte rs
a n d e rs b e s c h a ffe n a ls d ie d e s fe u d a l-k le rik a le n
E u ro p a . D as tro tz d es g e m e in s a m e n A u sg a n g s
von A r is to te le s und tro tz des E in s c h la g s v o n

16
M y s tik , d e r d e m O rie n t, g e r a d e a u c h v o m n a h e
g e b lie b e n e n N e u p la to n is m u s h e r , in k e in e r W e is e
fe h lte .

V erschiedenes V e rh ä ltn is des W issens z u m G la u b e n

So ü b e rra sc h t es n ic h t, d a ß d ie angegebenen
D enker s ic h dem G la u b e n ü b e r le g e n fü h lte n .
A llg e m e in e B e k e n n tn is s e zu ih m fin d e n s ic h
d u r c h a u s , d o c h d ie s e T r e u e w ir d s o g le ic h d u r c h
e in e n g e n a u e n V o r b e h a lt v e r k ü r z t. D u r c h e in e n
V o rb e h a lt, w ie ih n e in M a n n g e g e n d ie S p e is e
d e r K i n d e r h a b e n m a g o d e r b e s s e r : w ie e i n W a h r ­
h e its s u c h e r g e g e n F litte r , g a r g e g e n d e n F lo r u n ­
r e in e n D e n k e n s . D ie G r ü n d e r d e s G la u b e n s , s a g t
A v ic e n n a , h ä t t e n z u i h r e r Z e i t z w a r d a s s e lb e a u s ­
g e s p r o c h e n , w as s p ä te r d ie P h ilo s o p h e n g e le h r t
h a b e n , s i'e h ä tte n es je d o c h nach ih r e r W e ise
le d ig lic h v e r h ü ll t g e ta n . H ä t t e n es m it B ild e rn
und G le ic h n is s e n g e ta n , w e il d ie O ffe n b a ru n g
f ü r a lle g e s c h e h e n s e i u n d s ic h d a h e r e i n e r f ü r a lle
v e r s tä n d l ic h e n B il d e r s p r a c h e b e d i e n e . W ä r e s ie
u n d ih r G e s e tz in a n d e re r W e ise ü b e r lie f e r t w o r­
d e n , d a n n w ä re s ie v e r g e b lic h g e w e s e n . D a g e g e n
sei es das G e sc h ä ft der P h ilo s o p h ie , d ie R e­
lig io n v o r d e m V e rs ta n d d e r F o rtg e s c h ritte n e n
z u ü b e rp rü fe n , m ith in : s ta tt d e r E in g e b u n g d e n
B e w e is s p r e c h e n z u la s s e n . D a m i t a b e r w a r d e r
G la u b e an den K o r a n , a ls an das G o tte s w o rt,

2 .1 1 1 7 17
z u d e m g a n z a n d e r s a r tig e n G la u b e n a n d ie M a c h t
d e s m e n s c h lic h e n V e rs ta n d s v e rw a n d e lt. U n d es
e r h e l lt: D a s V e r h ä ltn is z u r ü b e rlie fe rte n R e lig io n
w u rd e e in e n ts p a n n te s , d e rg e s ta lt, d a ß ih r b e ­
s c h r ä n k e n d e r w ie i h r s c h le c h th in r i c h t u n g g e b e n ­
d e r E in flu ß a u f d ie F o rs c h u n g n u r s e h r g e rin g
s e in k o n n te . E benso b lie b in d e r R e lig io n k e in
o ffe n b a rt-ü b e rv e rn ü n ftig e r R e s t, vor dem der
V e rs ta n d a g n o s tis c h zu k a p itu lie re n h ä tte , v ie l­
m e h r : d ie B ild e r r e d e i s t g le ic h e in e m R e b u s a u f ­
lö s b a r , u n d i n d e r H ü l l e , d ie s ie d a r s te l lt, i s t k e in
M y s te riu m . N ic h t M o h a m m e d , s o n d e rn A ris to ­
te le s is t f ü r A v ic e n n a u n d g a n z s c h a r f b e i A v e r -
ro e s d ie h ö c h s te In k a rn a tio n des M enschen­
g e is ts ; d e u tlic h e r kann d ie W is s e n s c h a ft a ls
a b s o lu tn ic h t a u s g e d rü c k t w e rd e n . D ie c h ris tlic h e n
S c h o la s tik e r e h r te n g e w iß d e n A ris to te le s hoch,
w enn s ie ih n , von 1200 ab , p ra e c u rso r C h r is ti
n a n n te n , aber k ö n n te m an ih n , dem e n ts p re ­
chend, bei den is la m is c h e n P h ilo s o p h e n a ls
b lo ß e n V o rlä u fe r M oham m eds denken ? E r is t
h ie r k e in e s f a lls e in V o rlä u fe r, f ü r A v e rro e s is t
A ris to te le s s e lb e r d ie E r s c h e in u n g d e r m en sch ­
lic h e n V e rn u n ft ü b e rh a u p t, d a s L ic h t M o h a m ­
m eds aber b le ib t e in e s im R e ic h d e r e rs te n E r­
z ie h u n g , der M y th e n und P a ra b e ln . W ie so
ganz a n d e rs s te h t d a ru m d ie s e s G la u b e n -
W is s e n -V e rh ä ltn is gegen das c h ris tlic h -s c h o ­
la s tis c h e da. D o rt, von A n s e lm von C an -
te rb u ry b is T hom as, w ar d ie O ffe n b a ru n g

iS
d u r c h a u s n ic h t P a r a b e l. S e lb s t b e i d e m f r ü h e s te n ,
auch s a c h lic h d u rc h a u s k e tz e r is c h e n K irc h e n ­
p h ilo s o p h e n , b e i S c o tu s E rig e n a , w o der neu-
p la to n is c h -a ra b is c h e E in flu ß g e w a ltig is t, w ir d
d ie „ v e r a r a tio “ d e r „ v e r a a u c to r ita s “ dennoch
u n te r g e o r d n e t, u n d d e r V e r n u n f t o b lie g t es le d ig ­
lic h , „ v e ra e re lig io n is re g u la s e x p r im e r e “ , d e n
G la u b e n a lso v e r s ta n d e s f a ß lic h a u sz u d rü c k e n .
A lb e r tu s M agnus, vor a lle m T hom as k e h rte n
das a ra b is c h e G la u b e n -W is s e n -V e rh ä ltn is gar
v o lls tä n d ig um : n ic h t d ie p o s itiv e R e lig io n is t
p o p u lä r e V o r s tu f e d e r P h ilo s o p h ie , s o n d e r n d ie s e ,
d as n a tü rlic h e L ic h t, is t m ö g lic h e V o r s tu f e d e r
O ffen b aru n g . S o w e it T h o m a s a u c h d ie in h a lt­
lic h e H a r m o n is ie r u n g v o n G la u b e n u n d W is s e n
g e tr ie b e n h a t, s o s e h r w ir k t a u f ih n d o c h d a s e c h t
re lig iö s e , v o r a lle m e c h t c h r is tlic h e P a r a d o x , d a s
b e i P a u lu s s ic h d e r W e is h e it d e r W e lt e n tg e g e n ­
s te llt u n d d a s b e i T e r tu llia n d ie F o r m e l e r h a lte n
h a tte : c re d o q u ia ab su rd u m , q u ia im p o s s ib ile ,
das E v a n g e liu m is t g e w iß , w e il es u n g e re im t,
w e il e s ( f ü r d e n V e r s ta n d ) u n m ö g lic h is t. A u c h
b ei T h o m a s , d e m g ro ß e n , d e m e n ts c h ie d e n s te n
A r is to te lik e r des C h r is te n tu m s , is t d e r G la u b e
in a lle n s e in e n K e rn p u n k te n , w enn n ic h t d e r­
m a ß e n w id e rv e rn ü n ftig , so d o c h ü b e rv e rn ü n ftig .
U nd e b e n d e s h a lb , a ls d u rc h n a tü rlic h e E r­
k e n n tn is n ic h t le tz th in d u rc h d rin g b a r, is t er
v e r d ie n s tlic h . D ie D if f e r e n z z u A v ic e n n a s G le i­
chung von E rk e n n tn is und L ic h t (g e rad e a ls

*9
h ö c h s te m L i c h t , U r lic h t) k ö n n te n ic h t e n tsc h ie ­
d e n e r s e in .
H ie rb e i g in g f r e ilic h d e r m o r g e n lä n d is c h e V e r­
s ta n d e in s e lb e r n ic h t g a n z w e ltlic h e s B ü n d n is
e in . D enn e r g a l t ja in d ie s e n Z e ite n n i c h t a ls
d ie e in z ig e K r a f t , d ie v o m S c h r i f t w o r t a b tr ie b ,
d ie es z u r H ü lle h e ra b s e tz te . A u c h d ie m ystische
B ew egung u n te rs tü tz te o ft, fr e m d a r tig e r w e is e ,
d e n A b s ta n d d e s D e n k e rs v o n d e m S c h r iftg lä u ­
b ig e n . S ie d rü c k te im O rie n t, w ie s p ä te r bei
den A lb ig e n s e rn und M e is te r E c k a rt, v ie lfa c h
e in e V o lk s b e w e g u n g gegen A del und K irc h e
au s. D aneben fo rm ie rte s ie , b e so n d e rs in der
ira n is c h e n O b e r s c h ic h t, e in e e r h a l te n e A bw ehr
gegen den a ra b is c h e n Is la m ; h ie r nahm s ie
n e u p la to n is c h e Z üge a u f. A ris to te le s s e lb e r
w u rd e ja bei A v ic e n n a v ie lf a c h in n e u p la ­
to n is c h e m , ja g n o s tis c h e m L ic h t gesehen.
U n ü b e r s e h b a r i s t g e r a d e a u c h d ie s e A r t s y ris c h ­
ira n is c h e r E in flu ß im B a g d a d e r K u ltu r k r e is , e in
d e m K o r a n , g a r d e m is la m is c h e n Z e r e m o n ie ll v o n
H aus aus fre m d e r. In B agdad, m e h r noch in
B a s ra , f in d e t s ic h d ie F o rtw irk u n g des a lte n
ira n is c h e n L ic h tm y th o s , der s e lb e r e in e r der
U rsp rü n g e der m y s tis c h e n G n o s is w a r, a ls
d e r A b e n te u e r- u n d H e im k e h r-L e h re d e s L ic h ts .
A v ic e n n a b e s a ß m i t s e in e m N a tu r a lis m u s k e in e
B e z ie h u n g z u r r e lig iö s e n O r th o d o x ie , a b e r m i t­
sam t d ie s e m N a tu ra lis m u s B e z ie h u n g zu r kos-
m o lo g is c h e n L ic h tm e ta p h y s ik u n d s tr e c k e n w e is e

20
(z u w e ile n s c h lä ft a u c h H o m e r) so g a r z u ih re m
A b e rg la u b e n (m in u s a lle rd in g s der A s tro lo g ie ,
d ie er b e z e ic h n e n d e r w e is e in e in e r e ig e n e n
S c h r if t a b le h n te ) . E r h a tte V e rk e h r m it d e n S u f is ,
d e r p e rs is c h -m y s tis c h e n S e k te , d ie o h n e R ü c k ­
b lic k a u f d e n K o ra n , o h n e T ra n s it d u rc h d ie M o ­
s c h e e d ie R ü c k e r g ie ß u n g d e r S e e le in s k o s m is c h e
U r lic h t le h r te . U n d e r h a tte B e z ie h u n g e n z u d e n
L a u te r e n B r ü d e r n v o n B a s ra , e in e r u m 950 ge­
g r ü n d e t e n g e l e h r t e n S e k te , w e lc h e in e i n e r h e u t e
noch e rh a lte n e n E n z y k lo p ä d ie den L ic h t-U r­
s p ru n g d e r W e lt n e u p la to n is c h d a rs te llte , u m d a ­
d u r c h d ie u m g e k e h r te L e h r e , d ie L e h r e v o n d e r
R ü c k k e h r d e r W e l t u n d S e e le , a ls o d a s R e i s e b u c h
zum U r l i c h t z u g e w in n e n . D a s a lle s i s t M y s t ik
u n d a ls s o lc h e n i c h t e b e n W e l tli c h k e i t, j e d o c h , w ie
e rin n e rt: d ie s e M y s tik - e in s o n d e r b a r e r , d o c h
u n le u g b a r e r B u n d e s g e n o s s e - s ta n d g le ic h d e m
N a tu r a lis m u s im K a m p f m it K ir c h e u n d S c h r if t-
O r th o d o x ie . D ie R e lig io n w ird in e in e r r e in tr a n s ­
z e n d e n te n M y s t i k g e w i ß n i c h t a l s O p i u m f ü r s V o l k
a b g e le h n t, s ie g ilt e h e r a ls z u w e n ig O p iu m , d o c h
in der p a n th e istis c h g e r i c h t e t e n M y s t i k z e i g e n
s ic h T endenzen, d ie e in e m E rw ach en , w enn
n ic h t a u s d e m T r a n c e z u s ta n d , s o a u s d e m r e lig iö ­
s e n K n e c h t s z u s t a n d n a h e k o m m e n . B e i d e n S u f is
lö s t s ic h d e r p o s itiv e G la u b e in d e r in n e r e n S c h a u
d e s A ll- E in e n a u f , d e r S u fi e r k e n n t d ie N ic h tig ­
k e it a lle r R e lig io n e n u n d f ü h lt s ic h ü b e r sie , d ie
nur fü r den N ic h t-E in g e w e ih te n e x is tie r e n ,

21
s p i r i t u e l l e r h a b e n . D a s g l e i c h e g ilt* m i t p o p u la r i­
s ie rte m N e u p l a t o n i s m u s g e m is c h t, f ü r d ie L a u ­
t e r e n B r ü d e r v o n B a s r a : d i e p o s i t i v e n R e lig io n e n
s i n d n i c h t n u r D u r c h g a n g s p h a s e n , p ä d a g o g is c h e
M itte lg ra d e e in e r „ p n e u m a tis c h e n “ W a h r h e it,
s ie s in d s c h lie ß lic h L ic h tv e r d u n k lu n g e n ,T ä u s c h e ­
lä n d e r. So s a g te der M y s tik e r A b u S a id , e in
F r e u n d A v ic e n n a s : „ S o la n g e d ie M o s c h e e n ic h t
ganz v e rw ü s te t is t, w ird der D e rw is c h e W erk
n ic h t e r f ü llt s e i n ; s o la n g e G la u b e u n d U n g la u b e
n ic h t v ö llig g le ic h s in d , w ir d k e in e in z ig e r M e n s c h
e in w a h re r M u s lim w e rd e n .“ G o ld z ih e r (V o r­
le s u n g e n über den Is la m , 1910, S. 172) w e is t
k o n k re t d a ra u f h in , w ie sehr in s o lc h e n G e­
danken d ie S u fis m it den is la m is c h e n F re i­
g e is te rn z u s a m m e n tr a fe n , d ie a u f G r u n d a n d e re r
E r w ä g u n g e n z u d e m s e l b e n R e s u l t a t g e l a n g t s in d .
U n d z o g e in M y s t ik e r d ie K o n s e q u e n z d e r V e r­
e in ig u n g m i t d e m G ö ttl ic h e n z u s c h a r f , so k o n n te
er e rw ie s e n e rm a ß e n B e k a n n ts c h a ft m it dem
H e n k e r m a c h e n . S o n a h e m ith in s te h t d ie Ü b e r -
s p rin g u n g d e r R e lig io n ih r e r A u fh e b u n g , s te h t
d e r U n te rg a n g d e s M e n s c h e n in G o tt d e m U n te r ­
gang G o tte s im M enschen. L e s s in g s G le ic h n is
von den d re i R in g e n , das über B o c c a c c io auf
den s a ra z e n is c h b e e in flu ß te n H of des S ta u f e r s
F r ie d r ic h s I I . z u r ü c k g e h t, a b e r e b e n s o d ie d o r t
b e h e im a te te F o rm e l de trib u s im p o s to rib u s ,
d er d re i B e trü g e r M o ses, Jesu s, M o h am m ed -
a ll d ie s e ir r e l ig iö s e A u fk lä ru n g hat außer dem

22
H a u p ta n te il N a tu r a lis m u s d o c h a u c h d ie s h ö c h s t
p a ra d o x e E le m e n t k ir c h e n f r e m d e r M y s tik zum
U rsp ru n g , Es is t - in n ic h t p a n th e is tis c h e r , in
h u m a n -esc h a to lo g isc h e r G e s t a l t - v ö l l i g g r e i f b a r
b e i J o a c h im v o n F io r e , d e m L e h re r e in e s k o m ­
m e n d e n d ritte n T e s ta m e n ts ü b e r d e m a b g e la u ­
fe n e n a lte n und neuen. Z u le tz t e rs c h e in t d ie
s c h w ä r m e n d e K ir c h e n f e in d s c h a f t in d e r d e u ts c h e n
M y s tik d e s v ie r z e h n te n J a h r h u n d e r ts , b e i d e n s o
v ie lfa c h a n d e n S u fis m u s e r in n e r n d e n B r ü d e r n v o m
f r e ie n G e is te , b e i d e r M e n s c h v e rg o ttu n g , V e r­
n u n f tv e r g o ttu n g M e is te r E c k a r ts .
G e w iß , u m d a s Z ie lm a ß d e r g e g r ü n d e te n W a h r ­
h e it n ic h t z u ü b e r s c h r e ite n : d ie M y s tik k o n n te
n ic h t n u r k ir c h e n - , s o n d e r n a u c h w is s e n s f e in d ­
lic h a u ftre te n , und le tz te re r A u ftritt la g ih r
in a l le n r e a k t io n ä r e n Z e i te n n ä h e r . D a s W e r k A v i-
c e n n a s s e lb e r s o llte es e r f a h r e n , s o b a ld n u r d ie
M y s t ik s ic h m i t O r th o d o x ie v e r b u n d e n h a t t e u n d
d ie P h ilo s o p h ie v e rfo lg te . D a s w u rd e e in g e le ite t
( c h a r a k t e r is ti s c h e r w e is e m i t S k e p s is g e g e n V er­
n u n f t v e r b u n d e n ) d u r c h A l g a z e l, d e r a ls P r o f e s s o r
d e r P h ilo s o p h ie in B a g d a d b e g o n n e n h a t te , a b e r
gegen d ie P h ilo s o p h ie , f ü r d ie M y s tik s e in W e r k
s c h r ie b , d ie fo lg e n r e ic h e „ D e s tr u c tio p h ilo s o p h o -
r u m “ , u n d d e r s e in A lte r a ls S u f i v e r b r a c h t e . So
je d o c h , d a ß e r d ie p a n th e is tis c h e R ic h tu n g s a m t
d e r in te lle k tu e lle n a u s d e m S u f is m u s v ö llig a u s -
trie b , d ie o rth o d o x -tra n s z e n d e n te in ih n e in ­
s e tz te . „ W e n n d ie S o n n e a u f g e h t“ , s a g te d e r so

2 3
e n t s t a n d e n e R e n e g a t d e r P h ilo s o p h ie , „k an n m an
d e s S a t u r n e n t b e h r e n “ , d a s h e iß t d e s P la n e te n d er
G r ü b e l e i , d e r N a c h t w a c h e n , d e r W i s s e n s c h a f t . A ls
S o n n e g a lt i h m d e r K o r a n , a ls s a t u m i s c h u n d v er­
f lu c h t g a lt e n i h m g e r a d e H a u p t le h r e n A v ic e n n a s :
d ie E w ig k e it d e r M a t e r i e , d ie U n v e r b r ü c h lic h k e it
d e s K a u s a lg e s e t z e s , d ie N ic h t - A u f e r s t e h u n g d er
T o te n . In d e s, n e b e n d e r M y s tik , d ie z u m O b­
s k u r a n t is m u s fü h r t und n ach h er m it ih r zu­
s a m m e n f ä l l t , s t e h t e b e n d i e j e n i g e , w e l c h e i n ih r e r
A r t A v ic e n n a s U n te r o r d n u n g des S c h r iftg la u ­
b e n s u n te r d ie E r k e n n tn is -W a h r h e it u n te r stü tz t
h a t . S t a m m t d o c h , w i e a m E n d e e r h e l l t , d i e ge­
s a m te L e h r e v o n d e r R e lig io n a ls a lle g o r is c h e r H ü lle
m in d e s t e n s f o r m a l a u s M y s t ik , n ic h t a u s p u rer
A u fk lä r u n g . D er N e ü p la to n is m u s h a tte , nach

s to is c h -p a n th e is tis c h e m V organg, zu erst sä m t­


lic h e R e lig io n s v o r s te llu n g e n d e r ih m b ek a n n te n
W e lt , d ie g r i e c h i s c h e n w i e d i e o r i e n t a l i s c h e n , in

d ie s e A lle g o r e s e e in b e z o g e n , das h e iß t in d ie

U m d e u tu n g v o n r e lig iö s e n A lle g o r ie n z u p h ilo ­

s o p h is c h e n B e g r iffe n . D e r c h r is t lic h e P a tr is tik e r

O r ig e n e s gab dann d ie L ehre vom d r e ifa c h e n

S in n d e s B ib e lw o r ts : d e m s o m a tis c h -b u c h s tä b ­

lic h e n , p s y c h is c h -a lle g o r is c h e n , p n e u m a tis c h ­

e n t r ä t s e lt e n . Z w e if e llo s i s t d ie „ W a h r h e it “ , d ie

d e r g e s ta lt d ie N e u p la t o n ik e r , d a n n O r ig e n e s z u

fin d e n g la u b te n , n ic h t eben d as, w as d ie A u f­

k lä r u n g , sch o n bei A v ic e n n a , a ls r a tio n e lle n

K e r n m e in te . D ie m y s t is c h e A lle g o r e s e ( o f t e in e

24


I

R e n n b a h n w a h llo s e r A u s le g u n g s k ü n s te ) g e s c h a h
h a u p ts ä c h lic h , u m d ie R e lig io n e n z u r e tt e n , n i c h t ,
u m s ie z u k r itis ie r e n , z u r e d u z ie r e n o d e r g a r m i t
W e is h e it a u f z u h e b e n . A u c h w ir d in d ie s e r d e u - v
te n d e n G le ic h n is le h r e ü b e r a ll v o r a u s g e s e tz t, d a ß
d ie re lig iö s e U r k u n d e u n d d ie V e r n u n f te r k e n n t­
n is g e n a u d e n g le ic h e n I n h a l t b e d e u t e te n - e i n e
A nnahm e, d ie k e in e sw e g s d ie je n ig e A v ic e n n a s
w ar. T ro tz d e m s c h r e ib t s ic h dessen G la u b e n -
W is s e n - V e r h ä ltn is le tz th in aus d e r n e u p la to n i­
s c h e n A lle g o re s e h e r; und in r a tio n e ll g ew o r­
d e n e r , i n A v ic e n n a s G e s t a l t h a t s ic h d ie s V e r h ä lt n is
in d ie g e s a m te e u r o p ä is c h e A u f k lä r u n g h in e in
f r u c h tb a r g e m a c h t.

D e r L eb e n d e , S o h n des W a ch en d e n ,
G o t t a ls H im m e lsk ö rp e r

D as S p ie l des W is s e n s m it dem G la u b e n is t
s e lb e r rech t g le ic h n is h a ft ü b e rlie fe rt w o rd e n .
N ic h t n u r in der F abel von den d re i R in g e n ,
s o n d e rn in e in e r v ie l a u s g e fü h rte re n , in e in e m d e r
e rs te n p h ilo s o p h is c h e n R o m a n e , d e m B u ch lb n
T o fa ils : „ D e r L e b e n d e , S o h n d es W a c h e n d e n “ .
U n d d e s s e n F a b e l g in g e b e n f a lls in s e u r o p ä is c h e
S c h r if ttu m e in , n o c h a u s g e b r e ite te r a ls d ie d e r d r e i
R in g e : l b n T o f a ils R o m a n h a t n ä m lic h n a c h h e r
d e m R o b in s o n u n d d e n v ie le n R o b in s o n a d e n a ls
V o r b ild g e d ie n t. A ber d er R om an s e lb s t geht

35
g e d a n k l ic h a u f A v ic e n n a z u rü c k , w ö rtlic h so g a r

s ta m m t s e in a u f g e w e c k te r T ite l v o n ih m . U m d as
s c h l e c h t h i n A u s r e ic h e n d e d e r V e rn u n f te rk e n n tn is
z u z e i g e n , h a t t e A v ic e n n a e i n e n in v ö llig e r E in s a m ­
k e it zur E rk e n n tn is kom m enden M enschen

f in g ie r t, m i t d e m c h a r a k te r is tis c h e n A n ti- O p iu m -
N am en: „ H a jj ib n Jakzan“ , „der L ebende,
S o h n d e s W a c h e n d e n “ . D e r W a c h e n d e , es is t d e r

a k tiv e , a llg e m e in e I n te l le k t , d e r d ie M en sch en

e rfü llt und v e rb in d e t. U nd h ie r is t d e r A n la ß ,


d a ß h u n d e r t J a h r e s p ä t e r , im a r a b is c h e n S p a n ie n ,
d e r L e h r e r d e s A v e r r o e s , I b n T o fa il, s e in e n p h ilo ­

s o p h is c h e n R om an g le ic h e n N am ens s c h rie b :
„ D e r L e b e n d e , S o h n d e s W a c h e n d e n “ , w o r in A v i-

cennas F ik tio n ih r e P r o b e a u fs E x e m p e l fin d e n

s o llte . U n te r d e m T ite l „ P h ilo s o p h u s a u to d id a c -


tu s “ kam d ie s e r R o m a n 1 6 7 1 , z u r re c h te n Z e it,

in d ie f r ü h e e u r o p ä is c h e A u fk lä ru n g , s e in e d e u t­
sch e Ü b e rs e tz u n g , v o n E ic h h o rn : „ D e r N a tu r­

m e n s c h “ , 1 7 8 3 , b e s c h lo ß ro u s s e a u is c h d ie s p ä te .
D er R om an r ie f a b e r n ic h t n u r den R o b in s o n

h erv o r, so n d e rn b e s tä rk te den G ru n d g la u b e n

d e r A u fk lä ru n g : daß d er M ensch außer s e in e r

V e rn u n ft e in e n G la u b e n n ic h t b ra u c h e . D enn

A v ic e n n a -Ib n T o fa ils „ P h ilo s o p h u s a u to d id a c -

tu s “ w ird e ig e n e n A u g e s d e r N a tu r u n d W e is ­

h e it k u n d ig , u n v e rw irrt von P rie s te rle h re u n d

ohne d ie m y th is c h e n S u rro g a te der n ie zu m

D enken g e la n g te n , d e r v o m D enken fe rn g e h a l­

te n e n M enge. A lle rd in g s : auch d ie s e r T y p

26
s c h r e ite t s c h lie ß lic h , s o z u s a g e n a u f d e r h ö c h s te n
S tu fe s e in e s s e lb s tä n d ig e n E r k e n n e n s , z u r u n io
m y s tic a . N a tu ra lis m u s s c h lie ß t auch h ie r, w ie
im ganzen, h ie rin m itte la lte rlic h b le ib e n d e n
is la m is c h e n K u ltu r k r e is , M y s tik n ic h t a u s , s o n ­
d e r n e in . D o c h s ie h e b t d e n N a t u r a l is m u s b e i
den g ro ß e n D e n k e rn n ic h t a u f , h a t v ie lm e h r ,
g e ra d e b e i A v ic e n n a , z u s a m m e n m it d e r ü b e r­
w ie g e n d n a tu r w is s e n s c h a f tlic h e n I n te r e s s e n r i c h ­
tu n g , F r e ih e it v o m K o r a n , v o n d e r O r th o d o x ie
g e h a lte n . G a n z o h n e A u f k lä r u n g w ir k t n u r d ie
A rt E k s ta s e , w o m it - a ls le tz te r S tu fe e ig e n e r
V e r n u n f t- V e r v o llk o m m n u n g - der R om an Ib n
T o fa ils s e in e n R o b in s o n s ic h in G o tt a b h a n d e n
k o m m e n lä ß t. U n d w ie f r e m d a r ti g z u m N a t u r a ­
lism u s s c h e in t e s , d a ß Ib n T o f a i l g e r a d e A v i­
c e n n a , z u s a m m e n m i t d e n S u fis , a ls M e i s t e r d ie ­
s e r E k s ta s e r ü h m t. E r z itie r t d a z u f o lg e n d e n T e x t
A v i c e n n a s : „ W e n n W ille u n d Ü b u n g b e i e i n e m
z u g e w is s e r H ö h e g e s tie g e n s in d , d a n n w e r d e n
ih m v o m A n b ru c h d es L ic h ts d e r W a h rh e it e r ­
q u ic k e n d e S tra h le n z u te il , g le ic h den B litz e n ,
w e lc h e e in e m je tz t f u n k e ln und d a ra u f v e r­
sc h w in d e n . S o d a n n , w e n n e r in d e r Ü b u n g f o r t­
f ä h r t, v e r m e h r e n s ic h ih m je n e a u g e n b lic k lic h e n
S c h i m m e r ; d a r a u f w e r d e n s ie i h m s o h ä u fig z u ­
te il, d a ß s ie s ic h ih m auch ohne Ü bung d a r­
s te lle n . So o ft er dann e tw a s nur m it E in e m
B lic k e s i e h t , s o t r i t t e r a n d i e P f o r t e d e s H e i l i g e n
u n d d r ü c k t s ic h e tw a s v o n s e in e m W esen e in .

2 7
u n d in j e d e m D i n g , a u f d a s e r n u n e in e n flü c h ­
t i g e n B l i c k w i r f t , s i e h t e r s o g l e i c h d ie W a h r h e it.
E n d J i c h f ü h r t i h n d i e Ü b u n g a u f d ie S t u fe , d a ß
er z u e in e m r u h ig e n Z u s t a n d g e la n g t; w as so n st
n o c h v o r ih m zu f lie h e n p f l e g t e , w ir d ih m n u n
v e r tr a u t; w a s er so n st n u r f li m m e r n s a h , w ir d
ih m n u n h e l l e s L i c h t ; i h m w i r d e i n e b e s t ä n d ig e
K e n n t n is g le ic h e in e r b e s t ä n d i g e n G e s e l ls c h a f ­
t e r i n z u t e i l . B i s m a n z u d e r E r k e n n t n i s g e la n g t ,
wo das G e h e im n is ein e m p o lie r t e n S p ie g e l
g le ic h t, der S e it e der W a h r h e it g e g e n ü b e r g e ­
s t e ll t . U n d a u f d ie s e r S t u f e s ie h t m a n e in z ig u n d
a lle in i n d ie P f o r t e d e s H e ili g e n , d a s is t d ie w a h r e
V e r e in ig u n g “ ( I b n T o f a il, d e u ts c h : „ D e r N a tu r ­
m en sch “ , S. 30 f f .) . M it d ie s e m Z ita t b e z ie h t
s ic h I b n T o f a il a u f A v ic e n n a s v e r lo r e n g e g a n g e n e

„ P h i l o s o p h i a o r i e n t a l i s “ ; d i e s e a b e r h a b e e r k lä r t,
n ic h t b lo ß d e r K oran, auch d ie A r is t o t e lis c h e
P h ilo s o p h ie e n th a lte d ie W a h r h e it n u r e r s t in

e in e r H ü lle . D i e s c h le ie r lo s e s e i e b e n e r s t in d e r
„ P h i l o s o p h i a o r i e n t a l i s “ g e g e b e n w o r d e n , a ls d e r

P h ilo s o p h ie n ic h t der O r ie n ta le n , son d ern des

O r ie n t s , d a s h e iß t des L ic h ta u fg a n g s , d e r E r ­

le u c h t u n g . U n d A v e r r o e s w ie d e r u m t e ilt in s e in e r

„ D e s t r u c t io d e s t r u c t io n is “ m it , A v ic e n n a s „ P h ilo ­

s o p h ia o r ie n ta lis “ h a b e s ic h - m it v o lle m Pan­

th e is m u s - d e r W e n d u n g d e s s p ä ta n tik e n A r is to ­

te le s -K o m m e n ta to r s A le x a n d e r v o n A p h r o d is ia s

a n g e s c h lo s s e n , w o n a c h „ im W e lta ll e in e e in h e it ­

lic h e K r a ft v o r h a n d e n s e i, d ie in d ie T e ile des

2 8
W e lta lls ebenso e in d rin g t w ie d ie L e b e n sk ra ft
in d ie G lie d e r d e s tie r is c h e n L e ib s , d ie s e v e r ­
b in d e n d . V ie le A n h ä n g e r A v ic e n n a s h a b e n w ir
k e n n e n g e le rn t, d ie ih re m M e is te r d ie s e L e h re
z u s c h r ie b e n . E r habe s ie in der „ P h ilo s o p h ia
o r ie n ta lis “ g e l e h r t, w e il s ie d ie M e in u n g d e r E r ­
le u c h te te n w ie d e rg ib t, w o n a c h G o tt n ic h ts a n ­
d e re s s e i a ls d a s c o r p u s c o e le s te , d e r H im m e l o d e r
H im m e ls k ö rp e r“ („ D e s tru c tio d e s tru c tio n is “ ,
ü b e rs e tz t v o n H o r te n : D ie H a u p tle h re n d e s A v e r-
ro es, 1 9 1 3 , S . 2 3 4 ). N u n fre ilic h , n a c h a lld e m ,
s ie h t a u c h A v ic e n n a s a n g e g e b e n e E k s ta s e n ic h t
m e h r so g a n z o h n e A u fk lä ru n g u n d n ic h t m e h r so
fe rn v o n N a tu r a lis m u s d r e in . D e n n d a s H e ilig e , in
d e ss e n P f o r te A v ic e n n a s E k s ta tik e r e in s c h re ite t,
w o h n t d u r c h a u s n ic h t in e in e r n a tu r lo s e n T r a n s ­
z e n d e n z , s o n d e r n i s t A lla h a ls E in s tr ö m u n g d u r c h
d ie N a tu r s e lb e r, zuhöchst d u rc h das S te rn ­
g e w ö lb e . I n d ie s e m P u n k t w ird d a ru m d ie M y ­
s tik , w o r in A v ic e n n a - I b n T o fa ils „ L e b e n d e r S o h n
des W achenden“ s ic h v o lle n d e t, d e u tlic h w ie ­
der e in e p a n th e is tis c h e . B e i A ris to te le s g a lte n ,
m it p o ly th e is tis c h e m A k z e n t, d ie S te rn e a ls
G ö tte r , b e i A v ic e n n a d u r c h d r in g t d ie G o tth e it,
m it m o n is tis c h e m A k z e n t, d ie g a n z e N a t u r ; s e in e
E k s ta s e h a t f o lg lic h a ls E i n h e i t : d ie e n tr ü c k te S e e le
u n d d e n S t e r n h i m m e l a ls e b e n s o e n t r ü c k t e N a t u r .
D as is t zw ar rech t h o h e A bkehr von den B e­
w eg u n g e n a u f d e r E rd e (u n te r d e m M o n d ), d o ch
d e r N a tu ra lis m u s (G o tt = c o r p u s c o e le s te ) w ir d ,

2 9
m its a m t d er W a c h h e it , auch vom m y s t is c h e n
A v i c e n n a g e w a h r t . E s b l e i b t d a b e i : d a s H ü ll e n -
g l e i c h n i s f ü r d e n G l a u b e n g i b t d e m W is s e n g en a u
d ie S e lb s tä n d ig k e it, d ie es a u f d e r d a m a lig e n
H ö h e b e s i t z e n k o n n t e . W o b e i d a s W i s s e n , b is z u
s e in e r E k sta se , dem K örper, der N a tu r tr e u
b le i b t , ja d ie M a t e r i e N a t u r b is in d e n H im m e l
e r h ö h t.

A r is t o t e l e s - A v i c e n n a u n d d ie E s s e n z e n des D iesseits

N äher n u n zu Ib n S in a , s o is t h ie r n ic h t d er
O r t, ih n im e in z e ln e n d a r z u s t e lle n . E s k ä m e a u ch
m an ch Z e itg e b u n d e n e s , n ic h t zum m ö g lic h e n

E r b e G e h ö r ig e s d a b e i z u r S p r a c h e , d a s n u r n o c h
g e s c h ic h tlic h , n ic h t so seh r p h ilo s o p h is c h b e­
m e r k e n s w e r t i s t . L e b e n d ig b le i b t d e r P h ilo s o p h

A v ic e n n a m it g a n z a n d e r e m G e d e n k e n : s o is t er
e in g a n g s a ls M erkpunkt in der w a h r h a ft fo r t­
g e s e tz te n A r is to te lis c h e n L in ie b e z e ic h n e t w o r ­
d e n . A ls M e r k p u n k t m i t t e l a l t e r l i c h b e g in n e n d e r

A u f k lä r u n g , b e g in n e n d e r S t o f f - E r h ö h u n g , in d e r

W e ise , w ie A v ic e n n a s e lb e r der h e im a t lic h e n

O r th o d o x ie u n d w e ith in d e r c h r is tlic h e n Scho­

la s t ik e r s c h ie n e n is t. (N ic h t v e r s c h w ie g e n sei

a lle r d in g s , daß e in s e in e n a u f g e k lä r t e n S to ffen

n ic h t e b e n w a h lv e r w a n d te r A r a b is t, d er fr ü h e r e

k a th o lis c h e T h e o lo g e M . H o r te n , w e n n er A v i­

c e n n a , d a n n A v e r r o e s ü b e r s e t z t u n d E r lä u t e r u n g

30
h in z u g ib t, d ie s e a ls A u f k lä r e r h e r a b s e tz e n w ill, ja
le u g n e t. I h r N a tu r a lis m u s s o ll n ic h t m e h r s e in a ls
„ e in p r im itiv e s M iß v e r s tä n d n is d e r S c h o la s tik “ ,
a n g e b lic h u n te rs tü tz t d u rc h u n z u re ic h e n d e la ­
te in is c h e Ü b e rs e tz u n g e n B ei H o rte n s o ll s o g a r
A v e rro e s aus e in e m A n ti-O rth o d o x e n zu der
g ro ß e n Ü b e rra sc h u n g , „ A p o lo g e t des K o ran “
g e w o rd e n s e in . S c h le c h t v e rträ g t s ic h d a m it
im m e rh in d e r „ p a n th e is tis c h e Z u g “ , d e n H o r te n
n ic h t u m h in kann a n A v e rro e s z u z u g e b e n . B e­
d a u e r lic h n u r , d a ß d ie z e itg e n ö s s is c h e is la m is c h e
O r t h o d o x i e , d i e d e n A v ic e n n a w ie d e n A v e r r o e s
v e r f o lg te und ih re B ücher v e rb ra n n te , n ic h t
g le ic h f a lls a n d ie s e K o r a n tr e u e g la u b te , s ie v ie l­
m e h r, wo s ie e rs c h ie n , a ls L ip p e n d ie n s t d e fi­
n ie rte . D ie s e G e is tlic h k e it n a h m d e n N a tu ra lis ­
m u s in b e id e n P h ilo s o p h e n le id e r g e n a u e r w a h r
a ls e in re a k tio n ä re r A r a b is t von h e u te , post
fe s tu m . U nd w as d ie d e u tlic h s u b v e r s iv e W ir­
kung des A v e r r o is m u s im c h r is tlic h e n M itte l-
a lte r b e trifft, so s c h e in t d ie s „ p rim itiv e M iß ­
v e rs tä n d n is “ a u c h h ie r n ic h t b e i d e r S c h o la s tik
z u lie g e n , d e r e n g e r in g s te r F e h le r d ie P r im itiv i­
tä t w a r. A ls o b le ib e n A v ic e n n a und A v e rro e s
gegen d i e M u f t i - W e l t d e s I s la m s b e s t e h e n ; s ie
d ie s e r n a c h trä g lic h a s s im ilie re n zu w o lle n is t
k e in e P h ilo lo g ie d e r L e s a r te n , s o n d e r n d e r L e ­
g e n d e .) B e re its d ie E in te ilu n g d e r P h ilo s o p h ie
b e i A v ic e n n a h ä lt s ic h a n e in e w e n ig e r th e o lo ­
g is c h e G e w ic h ts v e rte ilu n g a ls d ie c h r is tlic h e n

3 i
A r is to te lik e r .A v ic e n n a fo r d e r tn a c h d e n p ro p ä d e u ­
tis c h e n S tu d ie n L o g ik u n d M a th e m a ti k e in sehr
b re ite s n a tu rw is s e n s c h a ftlic h - n a tu rp h ilo s o p h i­
sch es K o m p e n d iu m u n d d a n a c h e r s t, d a r a u f au f­
g e b a u t , d ie M e ta p h y s i k . D o c h n i c h t d ie s e N a tu r ­
e m p irie im A u f b a u , g le ic h s a m a ls S c h w e rp u n k t
i n d e r E n z y k l o p ä d ie , is t f ü r A v ic e n n a s W e r k das
B e z e ic h n e n d e . V ie lm e h r: b e z e ic h n e n d f ü r ih n ,
Z u s a m m e n h a lt fü r s e in e E rin n e ru n g und fü r
m e h r a ls d as, is t eb en d ie d u rc h i h n p o in tie r te
L in ie , w e lc h e v o n A ris to te le s s ta t t z u T h o m a s zu
G i o r d a n o B r u n o u n d d e n F o l g e n f ü h r t . U n d d ie
R i c h t u n g d i e s e r L i n i e s e i, e n t s p r e c h e n d e i n e r b e ­
k a n n te n G a b e lu n g n a c h H e g e ls T o d , a ls A r is to ­
te lisc h e L i n k e a u s g e z e i c h n e t . E s i s t d a s e i n V e r ­
g le ic h der n a tu ra lis tis c h e n W e is e n , w o m it der
A r i s t o t e l i s c h e N u s , d e r H e g e l s c h e G e i s t a u f d ie
E rd e g e b ra c h t w o rd e n s in d . D ie s e r V e rg le ic h
d a r f g e w iß n i c h t g e p r e ß t w e r d e n , A r is to te le s is t
n ic h t H e g e l, d e r s o z ia le A n la ß z u den s p ä te r e n
G a b e lu n g e n d ie s e r P h ilo s o p h ie n i s t h ö c h s t v e r­
s c h ie d e n , d ie Z e its p a n n e b is zum E in tritt der
L in k e n s c h e in t v e r s c h ie d e n , u n d z w is c h e n A v i-
c e n n a h ie r, d e r H e g e ls c h e n L in k e n d o r t tr e n n t d a s
F o rm a t. T ro tz d e m b e s te h e n K o rre sp o n d e n z e n :
e s v e r b i n d e t d a s h i e r w ie d o r t ü b e r w i e g e n d w e r ­
dende In te re s s e am D ie s s e itig e n , das H e re in ­
h o le n d e s A r is to te lis c h e n N u s in s tä r k e r e n , d e s
H e g e ls c h e n G e is te s in v ö llig u m s tü lp e n d e n N a ­
tu r a lis m u s . U n d w a s d ie Z e its p a n n e a n g e h t, d ie

32
b is z u r A r is t o t e l i s c h e n , d a n n H e g e ls c h e n N a t u r a ­
lis ie ru n g v e rs tre ic h t, so tra t e in e L in k e auch
n a c h A r is to te le s s c h o n u n m itte lb a r v o r. A r is to ­
te le s h a tte d e n S to f f a ls d a s „ d y n a m e i o n “ , d a s
b lo ß e In -M ö g lic h k e it-S e in d e f in i e r t, a ls d a s a n
s ic h B e s ti m m u n g s lo s e , d a s , w ie W a c h s , d ie F o r m
p a s s iv a u f n im m t u n d s ic h a b d r ü c k e n lä ß t. D ie
F o rm (Z ie lu r s a c h e , Z ie lg e s ta lt, E n te le c h ie ) is t
das e in z ig h ie rb e i a k tiv W irk sa m e ; und d ie
o b e r s te F o r m , d e r g ä n z lic h s to fffre ie a c tu s p u r u s
is t d e r N u s, d er r e in e D e n k g o tt. G enau d ie s e
L e h re a b e r e rh ie lt ih re n e rs te n L in k sc ffc k t sc h o n
am e ig e n e n O r t u n d s o s c h n e ll w ie d ie H e g e ls .
D e n n b e r e its S tr a to n , d a s d r itte H a u p t d e r p e r i-
p a te tis c h c n S c h u le , s c h w ä c h te d e n T h e is m u s d e s
r e in e n N u s s o w ie s e in e A b tr e n n u n g v o m S to f f
b e d e u te n d ab. S tra to n , d e r d e n B e in a m e n des
„ P h y s ik e rs “ fü h rte , g a b d em A ris to te lis m u s d ie
frü h e s te n a tu ra lis tis c h e U m b ie g u n g , sod an n
a b e r b r a c h te d e r e r w ä h n te g r o ß e s p ä ta n tik e A r is to -
te le s - K o m m e n ta tc r A le x a n d e r v o n A p h r o d is ia s
je n e n Z u s c h la g d e r h ö c h s te n P o te n z z u r M a te r ie in
G a n g , d e r , w ie m a n s e h e n w ir d , b e i A v ic e n n a
d e n S to ff ü b e ra ll m it W irk fo rm v erse h e n z e ig t
u n d e b e n s o je d e W ir k f o r m m i t S to ff" . E s i s t d a s
d ie m it A v ic e n n a anhebende N a tu ra lis ie ru n g ,
d ie d a n n b e i d e m s p a n is c h - jü d is c h e n P h ilo s o p h e n
A v ic e b r o n z u m B e g r iff e in e r „ m a te r ia u n iv e rs a lis “
v o r d r a n g , u n d d ie h ie r a u f b e i A v e rro e s d ie M a te r ie
a ls e w ig in s ic h b e w e g t u n d e in h e itlic h le b e n d ig

i
3 .1 1 1 7 33
z e i g t e : a l s „ n a t u r a n a t u r a n s “ , k e in e s G o tt-N u s
von außen od er oben b e d ü r ftig . B is , in der
R e n a i s s a n c e - W e n d u n g v o m T h e i s m u s z u e in e m -
w i e i m m e r n o c h p a n t h e i s t i s c h e n - M a t e r ia li s m u s ,
G io r d a n o B runo (d e r V e r e h r e r d e s A v ic e b r o n
und A verroes) d ie M a t e r ie a ls das e in e be­
f r u c h t e n d - b e f r u c h t e te A l l - L e b e n sa h , u n e n d lic h
w i e d e r f r ü h e r e G o t t , d o c h o h n e J e n s e its . D ie s e
L in ie a ls o , vom A r is to te lis c h e n M a te r ie -F o r m -
B eg rifF h e r , und ih r E ffe k t: d ie A u ß e b u n g der
g ö t t l i c h e n P o t e n z s e lb e r in d e r a k t i v e n P o te n ti a litä t
d e r M a t e r i e : d a s v o r z ü g l i c h i s t d e r W e g d e r A r is t o ­
te lis c h e n L in k e n , m it A v ic e n n a a ls n a c h a n tik e m
M erk- und W e n d e p u n k t. W ährend d i e A r is t o ­

te lis c h e R e c h te , z u T h o m a s fü h r e n d , d e n T h e ­

is m u s d e s r e in e n N u s , d e n b e i A r is to te le s ü b er­

h ö h te n , n o c h m a ls ü b e r h ö h te . So daß d ie s e

R e c h te ,d e n S to ff bei der b lo ß e n P o t e n t ia lit ä t

b e lie ß , d a s is t , b e i d e r s c h le c h th in n ig e n U n fä h ig ­

k e it, s ic h s e lb s t a u s d e m b lo ß e n „ d y n a m e i o n “ ,

„ I n -M ö g lic h k e it-S e in “ , zur W e lt h erau szu ge­

s ta lte n . N äher n u n an d ie L in k e b e i A v ic e n n a

s e lb e r heran, so s in d es d re i H a u p ts te lle n , a n
denen A r is to te le s n a tu r a lis tis c h fo r te n tw ic k e lt

w o r d e n is t. S ie b e tr e ffe n e rsten s d ie L ehre von

L e ib und S e e le , z w e it e n s d ie vom tä tig e n V er­

s ta n d o d e r d e r a llg e m e in m e n s c h lic h e n I n te llig e n z

und d r itte n s e b e n d ie v o m S to ff-F o r m - (P o te n -

t ia lit ä t - P o t e n z - ) V e r h ä ltn is in d e r W e lt. U n d d ie

z w e i e r s te n H a u p ts te lle n h ä n g e n d u r c h a u s m it d e r

34
d ritte n z u s a m m e n , m it der L in k s w e n d u n g im
M a te r ie p r o b le m , m it d e r S to ff e r h ö h u n g ,
i. W as L e ib u n d S e e le a n g e h t , s o g l a u b t u n s e r
D e n k e r a n le tz te r e . D o c h s ie f in d e t s ic h a ls b e ­
g e h r e n d e , f ü h le n d e u n d v o r s te lle n d e a u c h in d e n
T i e r e n u n d is t a ls d ie s e e n g m it d e m L e ib v e r­
b u n d e n . S e e le b e s te h t n u r in d e m o rg a n is c h e n
K ö r p e r u n d d u r c h d e n s e lb e n , a ls d e s s e n e in h e it­
lic h e u n d u n te ilb a r e W ir k f o r m . I n d e r m e n s c h ­
lic h e n S e e le a lle r d in g s tritt zur a n im a lis c h e n
d ie d e r M e n s c h m it d e m T i e r v ö llig te ilt, d e r
V e r s ta n d h in z u . U n d d e r s o ll m a c h e n , d a ß n ic h t
nur je d e r M ensch e in e e ig e n e S e e le a u f w e is t,
zum U n te rs c h ie d von der G ru p p e n s e e le der
T ie r e , s o n d e r n d a ß d ie e ig e n e a u c h e in e d a u e r n d e ,
u n z e r s tö r b a r e s e i. D ie s e in d iv id u e lle S e e le g il t n u n
a ls le i b l i c h w e d e r e r z e u g b a r e n o c h m i t d e m T o d
d e s L e ib e s v e r n ic h tb a r e . M it le tz te r e r M e in u n g
e n tf e r n t s ic h I b n S in a a ls o n o c h n ic h t v o m K o r a n ,
u n d A v e rro e s , d e r a u c h d ie m e n s c h lic h -in d iv id u ­
e lle S e e le , s o g a r g e r a d e a l s in d i v id u e l le , n a c h d e m
T od a u fh ö ren lie ß , is t h ie r f o lg e r ic h tig e r ge­
w esen . A b e r in d e m A v ic e n n a d e s to e n ts c h ie d e ­
n e r d ie A u fe rs te h u n g d e s L e ib e s le u g n e te , n a h m
e r d e r in d iv id u e lle n F o r td a u e r d o c h a lle F a r b e .
D er H e rre n k irc h e w e rd e n so d ie s in n lic h e n
S c h r e c k e n d e r H ö lle , d ie s e rie s ig e k le rik a le P e it­
s c h e , e b e n s o e n tz o g e n w ie d ie s e x u a le n F r e u d e n
d e s H im m e ls , d ie s e s o r th o d o x e Z u c k e r b r o t. K e in
s o lc h e r E n tz u g f in d e t s ic h bei den c h ris tlic h -

3* 35
m itte la lte r lic h e n D e n k e r n , t r o t z ih r e s m it A v i-

cenna u n d A v e r r o e s g e m e in s a m e n A u sg a n g s v o n

d e r a r i s t o t e l i s c h e n S e e le n le h r e . C h r is t lic h b r a n n ­

t e n im J e n s e i t s v o r a lle m d ie S c h r e c k e n , u n d d ie

T o te n m a r s c h ie r te n le ib h a f t ig a u f , u m a ls f ü h ­

le n d e g e k o c h t z u w e r d e n . B e i A v ic e n n a le b t g e ­

r a d e d ie s e s F ü h l e n , a ls z u r T ie r s e e le in u n s g e ­

h ö r ig , n ic h t fo r t; so m a c h te das W is s e n d ie

W is s e n d e n d a m a ls w e n ig s te n s von j e n s e it ig e r

F o lte r fu r c h t fr e i. W a s d e r v e r s t ä n d ig e T e il d e r

S e e le n a c h d e m T o d e n o c h e r fa h r e n s o llt e , d ie s e s

r e in g e i s t i g e U n g l ü c k o d e r a u c h G lü c k , lie ß s ic h

n ic h t m ehr fü r k le r ik a le n E in flu ß verw enden.

E s is t k e in W u n d e r , d a ß d e r P fa ffe s o lc h e Z e r ­

stö r e r s e in e r j e n s e it ig e n P e its c h e v e r fo lg te .
2. W as d en e i n z e l n e n V e r s ta n d u n d d ie a llg e m e in e
V e r n u n ft a n g e h t , s o g i b t u n s e r D e n k e r d e r l e t z t e ­
r e n a lle s . H i e r k e n n t e r k e in e r le i S c h w a n k e n , e r

geht d a d u rc h aus der Enge des S o n d e rs e in s ,

B rau ch s, G la u b e n s ü b e r h a u p t h in a u s . B e i A ri­

s to te le s w a r d e r e in z e ln e , in d iv id u ie r te V e r s ta n d
a ls der p a s s iv e e rs c h ie n e n , a ls der d u rc h den
H a b itu s d e s je w e ilig e n K ö rp e rs , m it d e m e r v e r­
b u n d e n i s t , b e s t i m m t e . E r is t p a s s iv , w e il e r , a ls
le ib g e b u n d e n , b e so n d e rs nahe dem b lo ß P a s s i­
ven, A u fn e h m e n d e n , b e s te n fa lls D is p o n ie rte n
d e s S to ffe s v e r h a f t e t is t. D ie a llg e m e in e V e r n u n f t
d a g e g e n is t d ie a k tiv e o d e r d ie e ig e n tlic h e F o r m ,
W i r k k r a f t d e s V e r s t a n d s ; s o b i l d e t s ie , a ls v o m
H a b itu s d e s je w e ilig e n K ö r p e r s u n a b h ä n g ig , d a s

36
u n p e rs ö n lic h e H aupt des M e n s c h lic h e n . D er
p a s s iv e N u s d e s A ris to te le s is t so le d ig lic h der
zur E rk e n n tn is f ä h ig e , d e r a k tiv e d e r d ie E r ­
k e n n tn is g e b e n d e . A b e r v o n B e z ie h u n g e n d ie s e r
tä tig e n V e r n u n f t z u e in e r m e n s c h lic h e n E in h e it
d e r V e r n u n f t ü b e r h a u p t is t b e i A r is to te le s n o c h
kaum d ie R e d e . E in e s o lc h e E in h e it la g A r is to ­
te le s f e r n , d e r d ie S k la v e n n u r a ls s p r e c h e n d e
W e rk z e u g e k e n n t , d ie z u m S c h e in d ie S e e le u n d
den L e ib e in e s F re ie n haben; ja , a lle N ic h t­
g r ie c h e n n a n n te A r is to te le s d e r g e s ta lt g e b o r e n e
S k la v e n . N ic h t e in m a l a ls e in G rie c h is c h -A ll­
g e m e in e s h a t e r d ie tä ti g e V e r n u n f t g e d a c h t, s o n ­
d e rn d a r ü b e r h in w e g , s e h r h o c h h in a u s a ls e i n
E le m e n t d e s g ö ttlic h e n G e is te s . W ie g a n z a n d e r s
n u n e rs c h e in t d a s N ic h t-In d iv id u e lle d e r tä tig e n
V e r n u n f t b e i A v ic e n n a u n d , d u r c h ih n , b e i A v e r -
ro es. H ie r is t a lle re rs t d ie tä tig e V e rn u n ft a ls
O rt e in e r E in h e it des In te lle k ts im M e n s c h e n ­
g esch le ch t d e f i n i e r t w o r d e n . A u s d e r b l o ß e n B e ­
s tim m u n g des N ic h t-H a b itu e lle n , N ic h t-In d i­
v id u e lle n is t s o d ie tä tig e V e r n u n f t d ie h u m a n -
u n iv e rs a le g e w o rd e n . In ih re m In h a lt a b e r is t
n ic h t R e lig io n , a m w e n ig s te n e in e m it B e in a m e n ,
e in e k o n fe s s io n e ll b e g r e n z te , s o n d e r n e in z ig P h ilo ­
s o p h ie , u n d z w a r d ie a u s z u le g e n d e A r is to te lis c h e .
D och d ie se g le ic h fa lls n ic h t a ls in d iv id u e lle ,
s e lb e r k o n fe s s io n e lle , so n d e rn , w ie A v e rro e s
s a g t, e in z ig d e s h a lb , w e il im E x e m p la r A r is to ­
te le s „ d i e h ö c h s te m e n s c h lic h e V o llk o m m e n h e it,

37
das E n d z ie l d es m e n s c h lic h e n I n te lle k t s “ de­
m o n s tr ie r t s e i. F r e ilic h s in d d i e W e g e , m it t e l s
d erer n u n d ie a llg e m e in e V e r n u n ft in d e n M en ­
sch en a u fta u c h e n s o llte , b ei d en is la m isc h e n
D en k ern p h a n ta s tis c h e g e w e s e n , b eso n d e rs b ei
A v ic e n n a . N a c h ih m s c h l i e ß t d i e t ä t ig e I n t e llig e n z
n ach u n te n h in d ie R e ih e der ü b e r s in n lic h e n
I n te llig e n z e n a b , w e lc h e von G o tt h era b ü ber
d ie P la n e t e n g e is t e r b is z u m „ B e w e g e r d e s M o n ­
d e s “ f li e ß t . V o n d o r t s t r ö m t d ie t ä t ig e I n te llig e n z
u n m it t e l b a r i n u n s e r e n V e r s t a n d , e r l e u c h t e t ih n
und b r in g t dort e in A b b ild der k o s m is c h e n
W e s e n h e ite n hervor. D as is t n e u p la t o n is c h e

E m a n a tio n s th e o r ie , u n d z w a r s o (m it z e h n h e r a b ­
s t r ö m e n d e n I n t e llig e n z e n o d e r S p h ä r e n g e is t e r n ) ,

w ie s ie w e n ig s p ä t e r in d e r K a b b a la r e p r o d u z ie r t
w o r d e n i s t ; v o n N a t u r a lis m u s is t m a n a n d ie s e r

e r z m y th is c h e n , a s tr a lm y th is c h e n S te lle w e it e n t­

fe r n t. U n d d o c h is t b e i A v ic e n n a d e r tä tig e V e r ­
sta n d , a u c h a ls „ n ie d e r s te h im m lis c h e I n te lli­

g e n z “ , e in in d e r W ir k u n g n ic h t s e lb e r A s t r a le s

o d e r a u c h , w ie d a s b e i A r is to te le s d r o h t, e in in

den g ö ttlic h e n G e is t V e r s c h ie ß e n d e s . S ondern

d ie E in h e it des M e n s c h e n g e s c h le c h ts geht da­

d u r c h a u f, u n d d a s m it d e r b e g in n e n d e n b ü r g e r ­

lic h -r e v o lu tio n ä r e n L e h r e d e r u n ita s in t e lle c t u s :

a lle M e n s c h e n h a b e n n u r e in e e in z ig e V e r n u n f t ,

u n d d ie V e r n u n f t i n a lle n M e n s c h e n i s t e in e e i n ­

h e itlic h e . S o se h r d ie s e u n ita s in te lle c tu s b e i d e r v

S to a b e r e its b e h a u p te t w o r d e n w a r , k ra ft ih r e r

38
L e h re v o n den g e m e in sa m e n G ru n d v o rs te llu n -
g e n i n a lle n M e n s c h e n , s o h a t d o c h e r s t A v ic e n n a
ih r d ie S c h ä rfe g eg eb en , an der d ie je w e ilig e
k o n f e s s io n e lle O r th o d o x ie s ic h s c h n itt. D ie S to ik e r
h a tte n m it ih r e r b lo ß e n V e r w is c h u n g s - G e m e in ­
s a m k e it s c h lie ß lic h den M is c h to p f d e s R ö m i­
sch en R e ic h e s f ü r s ic h und w aren so von der
h e r r s c h e n d e n K la s s e g e d e c k t. A v ic e n n a , n a c h h e r
A v e rro e s d a g e g e n v e rw u n d e te n m it d e r u n ita s
in te lle c tu s d ie A r r o g a n z ih r e r L a n d e s r e lig io n , d a s
is t, d e n G la u b e n d e s Is la m , d a ß a u ß e r ih m nur
N a c h t s e i. D i e E i n h e i t d e r tä tig e n V e r n u n f t in
a lle n M e n s c h e n v e r w u n d e te e b e n s o d ie A b s o lu t­
h e it des C h ris te n tu m s , v e rtre te n d u rc h d ie
S c h lü s s e lg e w a lt P e tr i. K e in W u n d e r d e s h a lb , d a ß
d ie G e is tlic h k e it b e id e r R e lig io n e n a u c h s o lc h e
Z e rs tö ru n g a ls sc h w e re K e tz e r e i b e k ä m p f te ; -
a u c h im A b e n d la n d w u r d e d ie u n ita s in te lle c tu s ,
in der G e s ta lt, d ie A v ic e n n a u n d A v e rro e s ih r
g e g e b e n h a b e n , a ls h a u p ts ä c h lic h e I r r le h r e v e r ­
d a m m t. U m eben vor der V e r w e c h s lu n g m it
d ie s e r A r is to te lis c h e n L in k e n s ic h z u b e w a h r e n ,
s c h rie b e n A lb e rtu s M a g n u s u n d T h o m a s b e id e
„ D e u n ita te in te lle c tu s c o n tr a A v e r ro is ta s “ . D e n n
d ie L osung is t k la r: in A v ic e n n a s E in h e it d e r
V e rn u n ft e rs c h e in t n ic h ts G e r in g e r e s a ls das
neue P a th o s der T o le r a n z . G e w i ß n i c h t , b e i e i n e m
P h ilo s o p h e n , a ls D u ld u n g d e s a u s g e m a c h t F a l­
s c h e n u n d h a n d g re iflic h S c h le c h te n , w o h l a b e r
a ls O p p o s itio n gegen P f a f f e n tu m , u n w is s e n d e s

39
0

B orn em en t u n d d ie A g g r e s s io n d e s G e s t r ig e n ,
d a s s ic h a u s S e l b s t s u c h t u n d D u m m h e i t zu sam ­
m e n z e l o t i s c h m a c h t . Ü b e r a l l ‘d a s h o b s ic h d ie
T o l e r a n z d e r h u m a n e n V e r n u n f t u n d s a m m e lt e
d ie ih r ig e n : a ls M e h r h e it. B ei d en r e v o lu tio ­
n ären T ä u fern , d en ja k e in e s w e g s u n b eseh en ­
d u ld s a m e n , g a lt d ie s e u n ita s in t e lle c t u s nachher
a ls P f i n g s t g e i s t d e s A r m e n K o n r a d i n d e r g a n zen
W e lt, „ h o c h ü b e r a lle n Z e r s t r e u u n g e n d er G e ­
s c h le c h t e r u n d d e s G la u b e n s “ , w ie T h o m a s M ü n ­
z e r p r e d i g t e . A l s a b e r d i e A u f k l ä r u n g k a m , m it
ih r e m so v ie lfä ltig e n W e r tb e g r iff „ N a tu r“ ,
w ir k te in d ie s e r , n eben anderen U rsprün gen ,
d u r c h a u s a u c h A v ic e n n a s u n it a s in t e lle c t u s n ach .
D ie E in h e it a llg e m e in e r V ern u n ft f i n d e t s ic h ,
d u r c h N e u s t o iz is m u s n u r h a lb v e r d e c k t , gerad e
in d em Ü b e r w ö lb e n d e n , a ls das N a tu r r ec h t,
N a t u r m o r a l, N a t u r r e lig io n d a m a ls , in d e r A u f­
k lä r u n g , e r s c h i e n e n s i n d . I t e m , e s i s t F r i e d e in
d e r B e d e u tu n g s r ic h tu n g d e s in t e lle c t u s a g e n s v el
u n i v e r s a l i s g e m e i n t , s o l l h e i ß e n : F r i e d e f ü r a ll e ,

d ie r e c h t e r u n d t ä t ig e r E in s ic h t s in d .

3 . W a s n u n d ie S to ff-F o r m -B e z ie h u n g a n g e h t , so
h a t u n s e r D e n k e r e b e n d ie s e w a c h s e n d u m g e b il­
d e t . E r h a t m i t d i e s e r U m b i l d u n g k e i n e s w e g s a ls

e r ste r b e g o n n e n , je d o c h erst v o n A v ic e n n a ab

u n d d u r c h ih n m a c h t e s ie S c h u le . S t r a t o n , N a c h ­

fo lg e r des A r is to te le s , b lie b , w ie geseh en , m it


d e r H e r e in z ie h u n g d e r W ir k f o r m in den S to ff

v e r e in s a m t . D a s s c h o n d e s h a lb , w e il d ie e ig e n t lic h

40
p h ilo s o p h is c h e A rb e it in der p e rip a te tis c h e n
S c h u le o h n e h in b a ld e r lo s c h ; s ie h a t s ic h e in z e l­
w is s e n s c h a f tlic h s p e z ia lis ie r t, auch v e rz e tte lt.
N u r d e r b e d e u t e n d e A le x a n d e r v o n A p h r o d is ia s
h a t, w ie o b e n e r in n e r t w u r d e , d e n S tr a to n is m u s ,
m it s e in e n d u r c h g ä n g ig n a tu r a lis tis c h e n L e h r e n ,
w e ite r e n tw ic k e lt. L e h rte er doch e in „som a
th e io n “ , G o tt a ls H im m e ls k ö r p e r , e r e rn e u e rte
auch, w as C ic e ro a ls S tr a to n s L e h rm e in u n g
ü b e rlie fe rt: „O m nem v im d iv in a m in n a tu ra
s ita m e sse “ , a lle g ö ttlic h e K r a f t se i, o h n e je n ­
s e itig e n G e is t, in d e r N a tu r g e le g e n . D o c h n ic h t
a n S tr a t o n u n d d e n K o m m e n ta to r A le x a n d e r , s o n ­
d e rn a n A v ic e n n a s c h lo ß s ic h d ie A r is to te lis c h e
L in k e des M itte la lte rs im p u n c tu m p u n c ti, im
M a te r ie b e g r if f , a n . U nd e rst d u rc h A v ic e n n a s
„ P h ilo s o p h ia o r ie n ta lis “ h a t s ic h a u c h A v e rro e s
d e n k e im e n d e n P a n th e is m u s d e s A le x a n d e r v o n
A p h ro d is ia s z u B e w u ß ts e in g e b ra c h t. A r is to te le s
s e lb e r n u n h a tte - w as h ie r a m Z e n tra lo rt f ü r d e n
L in k s e fF e k t z u w ie d e r h o l e n is t - d e n S to f f z u n ä c h s t
a ls d a s v ö llig U n b e s t i m m t e , U n g e f o r m t e g e l e h r t ,
a u s d e m , s e l b e r u n e r s c h a f f e n , s ic h a lle s s c h a f f e n
lä ß t. S o is t d ie s e e r s te , v o n d e r w ir k e n d e n F o r m
n o c h v ö llig g e t r e n n te o d e r U r m a te r ie d a s le d ig lic h
p a s s iv M ö g lic h e , n u r b e z ie h u n g s w e is e S e ie n d e . I s t
d e r S to f f d a g e g e n , w ie i n a ll s e in e n W e ltg e s ta lt e n ,
m it a k tiv e n W ir k f o r m e n b e r e its v e r b u n d e n , so t r i t t
z u d e m w ä h re n d e n „ d y n a m e i o n “ , „ In -M ö g lic h -
k e it- S e in “ , a u c h n o c h e in e A r t M itw ir k e n h in z u .

4 i
D i e M a t e r i e i s t a l s o e i n g l e i c h e w i g e s W e s e n w ie
d ie F o r m und d u r c h a u s k e in b lo ß b e z ie h u n g s­
w e is e S e ie n d e s , d a s d e s e ig e n e n S e in s e n tb e h r te;
s ie is t v ie lm e h r , d e r F o r m g e g e n ü b e r , d a s S u b ­
s tr a t d e r A n la g e , u n d zw ar b e r e its d e r je w e ils
b e s t i m m t e n . A ll e r d in g s s c h li e ß t A v i c e n n a w e ite r ,
daß zum S u b j e k t d e r M ö g lic h k e it n o c h e in U r -
s a c h - S u b j e k t d e r V e r w ir k lic h u n g h in z u k o m m e n
m ü sse, d en n d a s d e r M ö g lic h k e it d ie W ir k lic h ­
k e it H i n z u g e b e n d e k ö n n e n ic h t s e lb e r e i n b lo ß
M ö g l i c h e s s e i n . F o l g li c h m ü s s e , w i e d i e M a t e r ie
a ls d ie M ö g lic h k e it a lle r D in g e . v o ra u sg esetzt
w erd en m u ß , a u c h e in e d e r M a te r ie n i c h t im ­
m a n e n te U r s a c h e a n g e n o m m e n w e r d e n , e in „ d a -
to r f o r m a r u m “ o d e r F o r m g e b e r , w e lc h e r d ie D in g e
aus der M ö g lic h k e it zur W ir k lic h k e it e r h e b t.
S o fo r t jed o ch h a t A v ic e n n a d ie s e W ir k s a m k e it
e in e r g ö ttlic h e n U rsach e auf d ie b lo ß e V er­
le ih u n g u n d A u f r e c h t e r h a lt u n g d e r E x is t e n z e in ­
g e s c h r ä n k t . E s s t e c k e n a ls o in d ie s e m a c t u s p u r u s
k e in e I n h a lte (W a s h e ite n , E s s e n z e n ) , d ie n ic h t
b e r e its in d e r o b je k tiv e n M ö g l i c h k e i t d e r M a t e r i e
z u r E x i s t e n z d is p o n ie rt> j a p r ä f o r m i e r t s i n d ; u n d
G o t t is t e in z ig d e r E r w e c k e r . G o t t o d e r d e r s t o f f ­

f r e ie a c tu s p u r u s d e s A r is t o te le s w ir d s o s c h lie ß ­

lic h n u r d a s F ia t in d e r F o r m , a u s d e m F orm ­

geber w ir d er zum S ig n a lg e b e r e in e s o h n e h in ,

o h n e ih n z u r E n t f a lt u n g R e if e n , u n d d ie S u m m e
d e r E s s e n z e n , W a s h e ite n , F o r m w e s e n h e ite n r e g t

s ic h n ic h t in ih m . Z w a r d ie a b s tr a k te m a te r ia p r im a

44
an s ic h kann d ie V ie lh e ite n , gar Sum m e der
F o rm e n n ic h t e in m a l v o n fe rn e e n th a lte n , w o h l
a b e r i s t s ie i n der k o n k r e te n W e ltm a te r ie d u r c h
d ie g e s c h e h e n e F o r m v e r m i s c h u n g a l le m a l v o r g e ­
b ild e t: „ D i e P r in z ip ie n , d ie d a s in d iv id u e lle S e in
d e r M a te r ie h e r b e i f ü h r e n , s in d d ie je n ig e n , d ie ih r
d ie D is p o s itio n v e r l e i h e n .. . D ie s e D is p o n ie r u n g
g ib t d e n A u s s c h la g f ü r d a s Z u s ta n d e k o m m e n d e r
E x is te n z d e s s e n , w a s d e m b e s tim m te n D in g e h e r
z u k o m m t a ls d e m a n d e r e n . D ie D is p o s itio n ( in d e r
k o n k r e te n W e ltm a te r ie ) i s t n ic h ts a n d e r e s a ls e in e
v o llk o m m e n e B e z ie h u n g a u f e in e b e s tim m te , in ­
d iv id u e lle F o rm “ (D ie M e ta p h y s ik A v ic e n n a s ,
ü b e r s e tz t v o n H o r t e n , 1 9 0 9 , S . 6 n f . ) . D ie W e s e n ­
h e ite n s e lb e r s in d b e r e its s p e z ifis c h a ls m a te r ie lle
A n la g e d is p o n ie rt, so s p e z ifis c h , d a ß A v ic e n n a
e b e n s o v ie le A r te n v o n M a t e r i e a u f z ä h l t , w ie d ie
A ris to te lis c h e P h y s ik A r te n d e r V e r ä n d e r u n g a u f ­
g e z ä h lt h a tte . Es s in d v ie r A rte n : W e rd e n u n d
V e rg e h e n , rä u m lic h e B e w e g u n g , W a c h s tu m , V er­
w a n d lu n g , m it den d a rin je w e ils b e h a u s te n
F o rm e n , m it d e r ih n e n z u g e o rd n e te n b e s tim m te n
m a te r ie lle n M ö g lic h k e it. S o m u ß d e r B e g r if f d e r
a b g e tre n n te n F o rm s ic h v e r f lü c h tig e n und bei
A v ic e n n a , n ic h t e rst b e i A v e rro e s, e in e n T e il
ih r e r W ir k - W ir k lic h k e it a n d ie M a te r ie a b tr e te n .
J a , A v ic e n n a n e n n t , in s e in e r E le m e n te n le h r e , d ie
F o rm das „ in n e w o h n e n d e F e u e r“ oder d ie
„ fe u rig e W a h rh e it“ der M a te rie . K e in w e ite r
S c h ritt a ls o von d ie s e r U m b ild u n g der S to f f -

45
F o r m - B e z i e h u n g z u d e r f a s t v ö llig e n G e s ta ltu n g s -
Im m a n e n z oder n a tu ra n a tu ra n s b e i A v erro es.
W onach d ie M a te rie n ic h t n u r a lle F o rm e n
a l s L e b e n s k e i m e i n s i c h t r ä g t , s o n d e r n a u c h d ie
B ew egung w e s e n tlic h der M a te rie zukom m t
und n ic h t, w ie b e i A ris to te le s , d e r E n te le c h ie .
Es is t nach A v e rro e s „ d ie k re is e n d e B ew e­
g u n g d e s H im m e ls “ , w e lc h e d ie i n d e r M a te rie
von E w ig k e it h e r lie g e n d e n F o rm e n w achsend
h e rv o rtre te n lä ß t. D e ra rt sagt d ie „ D e s tru c tio
d e s tru c tio n is “ d e s A v e rro e s, d is p . r, in ih re m
e n ts c h e id e n d s te n S a tz : „ G e n e ra tio n ih il a liu d
e s t n is i c o n v e r ti r e s ab eo, q u o d e s t in p o te n -
tia ad a c tu m “ , je d e H e rv o rb rin g u n g e in e s
D in g e s is t n ic h ts a ls d ie W endung s e in e r
P o te n tia litä t zu d e r in ih r b e g rü n d e te n W irk ­
lic h k e it. U n d d ie F o r m e n g e h e n e in z ig a u s d e m
S to f f s e lb e r h e r v o r - E n tw ic k lu n g is t, „ e d u c tio
fo rm a ru m e t m a te ria “ . A lso l ä u f t d ie A r is to te ­
lis c h e L in k s ric h tu n g , ü b e r d ie U m b ild u n g der
S to ff-F o rm -B e z ie h u n g , d e u tlic h e in e r a ls a k tiv
b e g r if f e n e n - und n ic h t n u r m e c h a n is tis c h b e ­
g r iff e n e n - M a te r i e z u . A n S te lle G o tte s , d e r d ie
W e lt e rs c h a ff e n h a t , t r i t t d ie s c h ö p f e r is c h e G e w a lt
d e r n a tu ra n a tu ra n s - h in zur n a tu ra n a tu ra ta .
K e in W under auch h ie r, daß d ie is la m is c h e
O r th o d o x ie A v ic e n n a w ie A v e r ro e s v e r f lu c h te u n d
b e i d e s o i n e f fig ie , n ä m li c h in i h r e n W e r k e n , v e r ­
b r a n n t h a t , w ie d i e c h ris tlic h e In q u is itio n den
G io r d a n o B ru n o n a c h h e r le ib h a f tig v e r b r a n n te .

46
E in flu ß A v ic e n n a s a u f T h o m a s u n d d a s G e g e n te il

N ic h ts fre ilic h w ä re fa ls c h e r, a ls d ie ange­


gebene L in k e gegen d ie c h ris tlic h e n M önch­
d e n k e r s c h le c h th in a u s z u s p ie le n . D ie Z e ite n d e r
G e r in g s c h ä tz u n g der e u ro p ä is c h e n S c h o la s tik
s in d l ä n g s t v o r ü b e r , u n d l e b e n s ie t r o t z d e m h ie r
u n d d o rt fo rt, so s in d s ie v ö llig dum m g e w o r­
d en . A u c h is t d ie c h ris tlic h e S c h o la s tik s o v ie l­
f ä ltig , daß s ie n ic h t e n tfe rn t in g le ic h e r A rt
e in e A r is to te li s c h e R e c h t e g e n a n n t w e r d e n k a n n
w ie d i e i s l a m i s c h e e i n e L i n k e . A u c h is t g e ra d e
d ie k la s s is c h e c h ris tlic h e S c h o la s tik , d ie d u rc h
A lb e rt u n d T h o m a s b e z e ic h n e t e , in m a n c h e m m i t
A v ic e n n a e i n e r M e i n u n g . So b e so n d e rs in der
E r k e n n tn is th e o r ie , gem äß A v ic e n n a s a u ß e r­
o r d e n tlic h e r U n t e r s c h e i d u n g e in e r e r s te n , a u f d ie
G e g e n s tä n d e s e lb s t g e r ic h te te n I n te n tio n d e r E r ­
k e n n tn is u n d e in e r z w e ite n , a u f d ie b lo ß e n B e g riffe
von d ie s e n G e g e n s tä n d e n g e r ic h te te n . V ö llig
gar w u rd e A v ic e n n a s E n ts c h e id u n g über das
U n iv e r s a lie n p r o b le m , d a s is t, ü b e r d ie r e a le G ü l­
tig k e it der A llg e m e in b e g r if f e , von A lb e rt und
T hom as ü b e rn o m m e n . D ie U n iv e rs a lie n oder
A llg e m e in b e g r iff e haben danach e in e G e ltu n g
a n te r e m h in s ic h tlic h d e s P la n s d e r W e lt, in r e
h in s ic h tlic h d e r N a tu r , p o s t re m h in s ic h tlic h d e r
a b s tra h ie re n d e n E rk e n n tn is . H ie r h a t A v ic e n n a
z w e ih u n d e rt Ja h re frü h e r genau d ie L ösung
fo rm u lie rt, w e lc h e dann auf der A lb e r tis c h -

47
T h o m i s t i s c h e n H ö h e d e r c h r i s t l i c h e n S c h o la s t ik

g a lt. I n d i e s e m P u n k t h a b e n A lb e r t u s M a g n u s u n d

T hom as den A v ic e n n a ö fte r a ls A u t o r it ä t a n ­

g e f ü h r t ; w o n a c h a l s o , i n d i e s e m P u n k t , d ie c h r i s t ­

lic h e S c h o la s t ik n ic h t g a n z a ls R e c h t e od er a u c h

A v ic e n n a n i c h t a ls L in k e d a s t e h t . J a , w a s d an n d ie

s p ä te r w i e d e r v o r d r in g e n d e R e d u z ie r u n g der U n i ­

v e r s a l ie n a u f d a s b l o ß e p o s t r e m d e r m e n s c h lic h e n
E r k e n n t n is a n g e h t , s o w ir k t d a r in , in d e m N o m i-

n a lis m u s O ccam s, s tr e c k e n w e is e sogar m ehr


L in k e , n ä m lic h b e g in n e n d e b ü r g e r lic h e W e n d u n g

zum D ie s s e it s , a ls das in den Z e ite n d es A v i­


c e n n a u n d a u c h A v e r r o e s ü b e r h a u p t m ö g lic h w a r.
M ith in , d ie c h r is tlic h e S c h o la s tik k a n n k e in e s ­
f a lls s c h l e c h t h i n od er ü b e r a ll a ls A r is t o te lis c h e
R e c h te b e z e ic h n e t w e rd e n , a m w e n i g s t e n in l o -
g is c h - e r k e n n t n is t h e o r e t is c h e n F r a g e n . T r o tz d e m
s t e h t im g r o ß e n g a n z e n , u n d d a r in a n e n t s c h e id e n ­
d e n P u n k t e n , f e s t : d i e k l e r i k a l e B a s i s w i e d i e ih r
e n ts p r e c h e n d e , n ic h t eb en n a t u r a lis t is c h e A p o ­
lo g e tik in der H o c h s c h o la s tik la s s e n b e i ih r ,
n a ch b e m e r k te n A u s n a h m e n , v o n e i n e r A r is to ­
te lis c h e n R e c h te n sp rech en . D ie k a th o lis c h e n
S y s t e m e d e s H o c h m it t e la lt e r s h a b e n d e n A r is t o ­
te le s n ic h t n u r a ls p r a e c u r so r C h r is ti, s o n d e r n
e n ts c h ie d e n e r a ls praecu rsor d er f e u d a l-k le r i­
k a le n S t ä n d e g e s e lls c h a f t u n d ih r e r I d e o lo g ie k o m ­
m e n t ie r t . T h o m a s s e t z t e i n e n h a r t e n , b e i A r i s t o ­
t e le s k e in e s w e g s s o d e u t lic h e n R iß z w is c h e n L e ib
u n d S e e le , z w is c h e n d ie m it M a te r ie b e h a f t e t e n

4S
„fo rm a e in h a e r e n te s “ d e r W e lt u n d d ie v o n M a ­
te rie f r e i e n „ fo rm a e s e p a ra ta e “ der Ü b e rw e lt,
m it d e r re in e n g ö ttlic h e n G e is t-F o rm an der
S p itz e . M a n v e r g l e i c h e a u c h d i e n a t u r a n a t u r a n s ,
d ie s e H e r z k r a f t d e r M a t e r i e b e i A v e r r o e s , m i t f o l ­
gender T h o m is tis c h e n B e s tim m u n g : „ O p o rte t
quod p r im u m m a t e r ia le s it m a x im e in p o te n tia e t
it a ( ! ) m a x i m e i m p e r f e c t u m “ ( S u m m a t h e o l . I 4 ,
1 c ), d e r S t o f f a l s o i s t g e r a d e a l s r e i c h s t e M ö g l i c h ­
k e it d a s U n v o l l k o m m e n s t e . S 0 h ö r t m a n h i e r g e n a u
d e n u m g e k e h r te n K la n g w ie in d e r S to f f - F o r m -
B e z ie h u n g d e s A v i c e n n a u n d A v e r r o e s , u n d g a n z
fe rn is t d ie E i n b e z i e h u n g a lle r F o r m e n i n e in e
s ic h s e l b s tt ä ti g a u s f o r m e n d e M a te r i e . H a t t e n d i e
m o r g e n lä n d is c h e n D enker d ie A r is to te lis c h e
T re n n u n g d e r F o rm e n , v o ra b d e r h ö h e re n , v o m
S to ff e r s t v e r r i n g e r t , d a n n a u f g e h o b e n , s o d u a l i -
s ie rt T h o m a s d i e f o r m a e s e p a ra ta e u n d fo rm a e
in h a e r e n te s w e it über A r is to te le s h in a u s . U nd
e r s e tz t d o r t e i n e n v ö l l i g t r a n s z e n d e n t e n T h e i s ­
m us des re in e n G e is te s , wo d ie A r is to te lis c h e
L in k e la u te r E rk lä ru n g der W e lt aus s ic h
s e lb s t e in g e le ite t h a t t e . D as a lso b e z e ic h n e t in
d e r c h ris tlic h e n H o c h s c h o la s tik d ie m a c h tv o lle
R e c h ts lin ie v o n A ris to te le s h e r. E in F re s k o d e r
G io tto s c h u le in S. M a ria N o v e lla in F lo re n z -
w ir f t d a r u m den A v e rro e s neben den K e tz e rn
A riu s und S a b e lliu s a ls g ä n z lic h „ w id e rle g t“
zu den F üßen T hom ae. D ie c h r is tlic h e H och­
s c h o la s tik w ä re ja sonst n ic h t d ie E n te le c h ie

4.1117 49
d e r f e u d a l - k le r ik a le n G e s e lls c h a ft» m its a m t d e m
P a th o s d er g e o rd n e te n S tu fu n g , d ie von d e r
B a s is h e r i n d e n W e l t b e g r i f f u n d d i e H im m e l s i c h

so k a th e d ra lis c h e rs tre c k t h a t.

E i n f l u ß d e r A r is to t e li s c h e n L in k e n
a u f d ie A n t i - K i r c h e

Es is t a n d er Z e it, d ie N a c h w ir k u n g e n der a n ­
gegebenen L in k e n b e w u ß te r a ls b is h e r zu e r­
fa sse n . D a is t lite ra ris c h d e r R o m a n d e r R o se, a u s
d e m d r e iz e h n te n J a h r h u n d e r t, w e ltfre u d ig d u rc h ­
a u s , v o lle r L o s lö s u n g d e s F le is c h e s vom G e is t,
a b e r a u c h v o l l e r B e s e e l u n g d e s d i e s s e i t i g e n S to ffs .
E s is t k e in e h im m lis c h e R o s e , u m d ie im G a rte n
d ie se s R o m a n s g e w o r b e n w ir d , h i e r l e b t L ie b e s -
w e lt a ls W e l d i e b e , u n d A v e rro e s h a t P a t e g e s ta n ­
d e n . D a is t a u ß e r s o lc h h e ite re r F r e ig e is te r e i das
a k a d e m is c h e Ä r g e r n is e in e s c h r is tlic h - a n tic h r is t­
lic h e n A v e rro is m u s . B e g in n e n d a n d e r S o rb o n n e ,
fo rtg e p fla n z t b is z u r R e n a is s a n c e u n d z u m B a ro c k
a n d e r U n i v e r s i t ä t P a d u a . H a u p t a n l i e g e n w a r h ie r
n ic h t n u r d ie L eu g n u n g d e r in d iv id u e lle n U n­
s te rb lic h k e it u n d d er ebenso b e s tritte n e E rs a tz
ih re r im E o rtle b e n der a llg e m e in e n V e rn u n ft.
V ie lm e h r s ta n d g e ra d e das M a te rie p ro b le m im
M itte lp u n k t, d e r V o rra n g d e r m a te rie lle n „ s u b -
s ta n tia o rb is “ , n a c h dem g le ic h n a m ig e n S e r m o n

50
des A v e rro e s. B e so n d e rs der J u ris t Johannes
v o n P a d u a , s p ä te r u n d sc h w ä c h e r d e r M e d iz in e r
P i e t r o d ’A b a n o h a b e n b e i d e a ls P h il o s o p h e n d i e
P ra e e x is te n z d e r M a te r ie g e g e n d ie K ir c h e u n d
ih re S c h ö p fu n g s le h re v e r te id ig t. D a d ie W e lt,
e h e s ie a k tu e ll w u r d e ( in d ie W irk lic h k e it tr a t ) ,
sch on p o te n z ie ll e x is t ie r te , i s t s ie s o e w ig w ie
d a s S u b s tr a t ih r e r M ö g lic h k e it, d ie M a te r ie . D o c h
a ll d a s t r i t t z u r ü c k v o r d e r N a c h w ir k u n g , d ie n u n
n ic h t n u r in e le g a n te r P o e s ie o d e r im S c h a tte n
d es H ö rsa a ls g e s c h a h .
B re n n e n d e N a c h w irk u n g d e s n e u e n S to ff-F o rm -
V e r h ä ltn is s e s z e ig te s ic h an an d e re r S te lle , b e i
g e f ä h r lic h e n S e k te n u n d b e i M ä r ty r e r n . S o , w a s
S e k te n h ä u p te r a n g e h t, u m 1 2 0 0 b e i d e n p a n th e -
is tis c h e n K e tz e r n A m a lric h v o n B e n a u n d D a v id
v o n D in a n t. S ie w a r e n d ie H ä u p te r d e r S e k te d e r
A m a lrik a n e ru n d u n te rs c h ie d e n s ic h v o n d e n e n ,d ie
d ie K irc h e s o n s t S c h w a r m g e is te r n a n n te , e b e n
d u r c h d ie „ M a t e r i e “ ih r e s G e is te s . B e z ie h u n g z u r
A lb ig e n s e r b e w e g u n g f e h lt h ie r n ic h t, a u c h n ic h t
z u J o a c h im v o n F io r e , d e r p o litis c h g le ic h z e itig d ie
H e ra n k u n ft des H e ilig e n G e is te s v e rk ü n d e te .
A ber der H e ilig e G e is t in D a v id von D in a n t
b r a c h te S e lts a m e s , e r k a m b e d e u te n d m e h r v o n
B a g d a d u n d C o r d o v a , v o n A v ic e n n a u n d A v e r­
ro es a ls vom H im m e l. A lb e r tu s M agnus ü b er­
lie f e r t v o n D a v id , e r h a b e g e l e h r t: „ D e u s , h y le
et m ens una s o la s u b s ta n tia s u n t “ , G o tt, S to f f
und G e is t s in d e in e e in z ig e S u b s ta n z , und

5i
T h o m a s fü g t h in z u : „ S tu ltis s im e p o s u it d e u m e sse
m a te ria m p r im a m .“ In d e m s o G o tt, S to f f u n d
K ö r p e r s u b s ta n z ie ll d a s s e lb e s in d u n d G o tt n ic h ts
a n d e re s a ls d ie e rs te M a te r ie is t, a u s d e r a lle s
g e w o rd e n , in d e r a lle F o rm e n b e fa ß t s in d , h a t
d ie F o rm auch im A b e n d la n d g e g e n d e n S to ff
v e rlo re n . Ü b e r la n g e Z e it fre ilic h b lie b D a v id
von D in a n t ohne F o lg e n , der S c h e ite rh a u fe n
r o t t e t e s ie a u s , d e r K o n ta k t d ie s e r L e h r e m i t d e r
R e n a is s a n c e w a r v e r f r ü h t, w ird e rs t a n G io r d a n o
B ru n o s ic h tb a r. Ih r K o n ta k t nach rü c k w ä rts
f r e ilic h is t m it H ä n d e n z u g re ife n , a u c h d e r m it
dem s p a n is c h -jü d is c h e n P h ilo s o p h e n z w is c h e n
A v ic e n n a u n d A v e r r o e s , m i t A v ic e b r o n , d e r D a ­
v id v o n D in a n t u n d B ru n o s c h o n v e re in ig t h a tte ,
b e v o r s ie d a w a r e n . A v ic e b r o n , i m e lfte n J a h r ­
h u n d e r t , is t id e n tis c h m it d e m re lig iö s e n H y m n e n ­
d ic h te r S a lo m o n ib n G a b ir o l, d e r la n g e f ü r e in e n
A r a b e r g e h a l t e n u n d a u c h b e i B r u n o a ls s o l c h e r ,
m it fa st h ö h e re r V e reh ru n g a ls A v ic e n n a und
A v e rr o e s , z itie r t w ir d . E in D e n k e r , d e s s e n W e r k
„ F o n s v ita c “ im jü d is c h -a ra b is c h e n K u ltu rk re is
w e n ig g e w ir k t h a t, d o c h d e s to s tä rk e r e b e n im
c h r is tlic h - h ä r e tis c h e n . J a , e s lä ß t s ic h s a g e n : d ie
A r is to te lis c h e L in k e , m it A v ic e n n a a u f s te ig e n d ,
v e rb in d e t s ic h bei A v ic e b ro n sogar m it e in e r
h ö c h s t m e r k w ü r d ig e n A rt von n e u p la to n is c h e r
L in k e n , d e r g e s ta lt d a ß er e in e n von H aus aus
so m y s tis c h e n B e g r iff w ie P lo tin s „ in te llig ib le
M a te rie “ , hoch bei G o tt, r a d ik a l zu e in e r

52
„ m a te r ia u n iv e r s a lis “ in a lle n W e lts c h ic h te n a u s ­
g e b r e ite t h a t . D as w a r ja b e re its in A v ic e n n a s
„ P h ilo s o p h ia o rie n ta lis “ in te n d ie rt, u n d so hat
a u c h d ie s e , m i t A v ic e b r o n s W e r k z u s a m m e n , a u f
D a v id v o n D i n a n t u n d d i e F o l g e n g e w ir k t. A b e r
A v ic e b ro n f a ß t s c h ä r f e r a ls A v ic e n n a s e in e - d ie
V e rn u n ft w ie d ie K ö r p e r - v e rb in d e n d e „ m a te ria
u n iv e rs a lis“ a ls das S u b s tra t des e in h e itlic h e n
L e b e n s z u s a m m e n h a n g s d e r W e lt. V o m S te in b is
zur h ö c h s te n m e n s c h lic h e n G a ttu n g s v e rn u n ft,
d e r „ a l l g e m e i n e n I n t e l l i g e n z “ , i s t a lle s m i t e i n e r
e in z ig e n , fo rm ü b e rle g e n e n M a te rie v e rse h e n :
u n d n u r G o tte s W ille b le ib t v o n ih r fre i. „ I c h
h ab e v e rs ta n d e n “ , sa g t d e r S c h ü le r im 2. T r a k ta t
„Fons v ita e “ , „daß d ie b e so n d e re n a tü rlic h e
M a te rie i n d e r a l lg e m e in e n n a t ü r l i c h e n M a te r i e
s u b s is tie r t, d ie s e in der a llg e m e in e n h im m ­
lis c h e n , d ie s e in d e r a llg e m e in e n k ö rp e rh a fte n
u n d d ie se in d e r a llg e m e in e n s p ir itu a le n M a te r ie .“
D e r a r t s o ll e s a ls o ü b e r d e r b e s o n d e r e n n a tü r­
lic h e n n o c h v ie r h ö h e r e M a te r ie n g e b e n u n d a lle
d e r S u b s ta n z n a c h g le ic h , k e in e n D is p e n s v o n s ic h
g e w ä h r e n d , d ie W e lte in h e it tr a g e n d . Z w e ife llo s
hat auch d ie s e B o ts c h a ft a u s dem m o rg e n lä n ­
d is c h e n N a tu r a lis m u s d ie p a n th e is tis c h e n K e tz e r
E u r o p a s e r r e ic h t, d ie B o ts c h a f t v o n d e r M a te r ie
a ls E in h e its s u b s tra t ü b e ra ll; D a v id s F o rm e l:
„ O m n ia i n m a te r ia id e m “ w e is t d a r a u f h in .
U nd nun z u B ru n o , v o n d e m h e r d ie E h r e d e s
S to ffs e n d l i c h z u g lä n z e n b e g i n n t . D e r V o r r a n g

5 3
d e r F o r m e n f ä llt g ä n z lic h w e g , u n d a m v er ä c h t­

lic h s te n w ir d d ie je n ig e b e h a n d e lt, d ie v o m Jen­

s e its h e r s t o ß e n o d e r s tr a h le n s o ll. A u ta r k is t sta tt

d e s s e n d ie s ic h s e lb s t b e f r u c h t e n d e , ih r e F o r m e n

zum A ll a u s g e b ä r e n d e , s ic h s e lb s t e x p liz ie r e n d e

M a te r ie . N u r in d ie s e r n a tu r a n a tu r a n s le b t d e r

K ü n s tle r der W e ltb ild u n g , u n d d ie u n e n d lic h e

G o t t n a t u r w e b t s ic h a ll e in d a s u n e n d l ic h e W e lt ­

k le id n a tu r a n a tu r a ta . D i e e w ig e H e r v o r z ie h u n g

des in der M a te r ie e n th a lte n e n R e ic h tu m s der

G e s ta lte n is t d ie U rsach e der von uns w ahr­


genom m en en W e lt. N ir g e n d s a ls o b le ib t bei

B runo d ie M a te r ie p a s s iv , o h n e A k t, T ü c h tig ­

k e it, V o lle n d u n g , „ s e n z a a tto , s e n z a v ir tü e p e r -


fe z io n e “ . B runos g lü h e n d e r , A v ic e n n a , A v ic e -
b r o n , A v e r r o e s v ö llig z u r W e lt b r in g e n d e r N a ­
t u r a lis m u s is t s o g r o ß , d a ß e r s o g a r d ie A r is t o ­
te lis c h e S eh n su ch t der M a t e r ie zu r F orm (a ls
e in e r b e g r e n z t g e s t a lt e n d e n ) m it d e r A u t a r k ie d e r
M a t e r ie (a ls e in e m u n e n d lic h e n S ch ö p fu n g s-
s c h o ß ) f ü r im v e r e in b a r a n s ie h t. « D i e M a t e r ie b e ­
geh rt n ic h t je n e F orm en, d ie s ic h t ä g lic h auf
ih r e m R ü c k e n ä n d e r n . . . Ü b e r d ie s h a b e n w ir
n ic h t b e s s e r e n G r u n d z u s a g e n , d a ß d ie M a t e r ie
d ie F o r m b e g e h r e , a ls i m G e g e n te il, d a ß s ie s ie
h asse;. . . d e n n m it e b e n s o g u t e m G r u n d e , w ie
m a n s a g t , d a ß s ie d a s b e g e h r t , w a s s ie m a n c h m a l
em p fa n g t und h e r v o r b r in g t, kann m an auch
sagen , w en n s ie a b w ir ft u n d b e s e itig t, d aß s ie
v e r a b s c h e u t , ja v i e l m ä c h t i g e r v e r a b s c h e u t a l s

54
b e g e h r t, d a s ie d o c h d ie e in z e ln e F o r m , d ie s ie
f ü r k u r z e Z e i t f e s t g e h a l t e n h a t , f ü r e w i g a b w i r f t ...
D ie Q u e lle der F o rm e n kann n ic h t b e g e h re n ,
w as in ih r is t, d a m a n d o c h n ic h t b e g e h rt, w a s
m an b e s itz t“ ( D ia lo g h i d e lla c a u s a p r in c ip io e d
u n o , 4 . D ia lo g ). U n d d ie G e is te s v e rw a n d ts c h a ft
G io r d a n o B r u n o s z u r A r is to te lis c h e n L in k e n , w ie
s ie ü b e r s o v ie le J a h r h u n d e r t e h i n w e g in d ie s e m
M a te r ia lis m u s der L e b e n d ig k e it e rs c h e in t, is t
zudem e in e b e w u ß te : „ D e s h a lb haben e in ig e ,
d a s ie d a s V e r h ä lt n is d e r F o r m e n in d e r N a t u r
w o h l e r w o g e n h a tte n , s o w e it m a n e s a u s A r is to ­
te le s u n d a n d e re n von ä h n lic h e r R ic h tu n g er­
k e n n e n k o n n te , z u le tz t g e s c h lo s s e n , es s e ie n d ie
F o rm e n n u r a c c e d e n tia und B e s tim m u n g e n an
d e r M a te rie , u n d d a s V o r r e c h t , a ls A k tu s u n d
E n te le c h ie zu g e lte n , m ü s s e d a h e r d e r M a te rie
a n g e h ö r e n , n ic h t s o lc h e n D in g e n , v o n d e n e n w ir
in W a h rh e it nur sagen können, daß s ie n ic h t
S u b s ta n z u n d N a tu r , s o n d e rn D in g e a n d e r S u b ­
s ta n z u n d a n d e r N a t u r s in d . S u b s ta n z u n d N a t u r
a b e r, b e h a u p te n s ie , is t d ie M a te rie , d ie nach
ih n e n e in n o tw e n d ig e s , e w ig e s und g ö ttlic h e s
P rin z ip is t, w ie bei je n e m M au ren , dem
A v ic e b r o n , w e lc h e r s ie den a llg e g e n w ä r tig e n
G o tt n e n n t “ ( e b e n d a , 3 . D ia lo g ). F r e ilic h s tim m t
B ru n o s e lb e r d ie s e r v ö llig e n A b s e tz u n g d e s F o r ­
m a lp r in z ip s n ic h t g a n z z u ; T e o f ilo , d e r S p r e c h e r
d es P h ilo s o p h e n , e rg ä n z t s o g le ic h n a c h h e r , im
s e lb e n D ia lo g , d a ß n e b e n dem M a te ria lp rin z ip

55
a lle r d in g s n o c h e in f o r m a le s b e s te h e , w e n n a u c h
in in n ig e r V e r e in ig u n g m it d e r M a te r ie , d a s er
W e ltk r a ft n e n n t , u n iv e r s a le F orm . In d es w ir d
au ch d adurch d ie m a t e r ie lle O m n ip o t e n z n ic h t
a u fg e h o b e n , a u c h d a s F o r m a lp r in z ip W e l t s e e le
i s t f ü r d i e M a t e r i e ja n u r „ S t e u e r m a n n a u f d e m
S c h iff“ . U nd e b e n d ie s e s F o r m a lp r in z ip , das
a ls o b e r s t e s , a ls G o t te s W ille , „ b e i d e m M a u r e n
A v ic e b r o n “ n o c h k e in e M a t e r ie g e f ü h r t h a tt e , is t
b e i B r u n o , d e m to t a le n I m m a n e n z - D e n k e r , v o n
d e r G lu t d e r M a t e r ie k a u m m e h r u n te r s c h e id b a r .
O b w o h l B r u n o d ie M a t e r ie d a s e r s te , d ie F o r m
d a s z w e it e S e in s p r in z ip n e n n e n m a g , s o is t ih m
d i e M a t e r ie d o c h d ie M u t t e r a lle r F o r m e n , d ie s e
s in d ih r e K in d e r , u n d z w is c h e n M a te r ie - F o r m
i s t k e in e r le i r e a le r S u b s ta n z u n t e r s c h ie d . W e s h a lb
H egel m it R echt üb er B ru n os P r in z ip s a g t:
„ D i e s e M a t e r ie i s t n ic h t s o h n e d ie W ir k s a m k e it,
d ie F o r m is t d a s V e r m ö g e n u n d d a s in n e r e L e b e n
d e r M a t e r ie .“ D a m it g ib t B r u n o d e m A v ic e n n a -
N a tu r a lis m u s K on seq u en z: G o tt is t n u n n ic h t

e in n o c h s e lb s t ä n d ig e s M o m e n t a n d e r M a t e r ie ,
son d ern d ie s e hat d as u n te r dem u n b e w e g te n

B ew eger G e d a c h te a ls ih r e ig e n e s , h ö c h s t be­
w e g te s L eben s e lb e r . N ur S p in o z a s P a n t h e is ­

m u s z e ig t e in n o c h b r u c h lo s e r e s I n e in a n d e r d e r

I m m a n e n z , w o b e i e r e s n ic h t m e h r n ö tig f in d e t ,

s ic h im S t o f f - F o r m - V e r h ä lt n is des A r is to te le s
und s e in e r L in k e n te r m in o lo g is c h -s a c h lic h zu

b e w e g e n . A b e r a u c h S p in o z a h a t d e n G e is t d e r

56
a n g e z e ig te n R ic h tu n g so w e n ig v e rla s s e n , d a ß
s e lb s t D a v id von D in a n t, d e r ih m fa st zu v e r­
lä s s ig u n b e k a n n te , doch der S ache nach in
S p in o z a s S u b s ta n z -A ttrib u te -E in h e it w ie d e r­
k lin g t. „ D e u s , h y le e t m e n s u n a s o la s u b s t a n t i a
s u n t“ , h a t t e D a v id v o n D in a n t g e le h rt; - d a m it
is t u n ü b e r h ö r b a r S p in o z a s S a c h e in h e it i n t e n d i e r t :
D e u s s iv e n a t u r a e t re s e x te n s a e t re s c o g ita n s . S o
w e it a ls o re ic h e n V e rm ittlu n g e n d e r A ris to te li­
s c h e n L in k e n in d ie n e u e re , w e ltim m a n e n te P h ilo ­
s o p h ie ; m o r g e n - w ie a b e n d lä n d is c h v e r s c h lu n g e n
a r b e ite t d ie W a h r h e it d e s M a te r ia lis m u s s ic h h e r ­
v o r. U n d z u le tz t s e i n o c h a u f d ie n ic h t g e r in g e
B e z ie h u n g h in g e w ie s e n , d ie ohne P a n th e is m u s
z w is c h e n A v ic e n n a ,A v e r r o e s u n d d e r L e ib n iz s c h e n
im m a n e n te n E n tfa ltu n g s le h re b e s te h t. O bw ohl
auch bei L e ib n iz d a s S to ff-F o rm -P ro b le m te r­
m in o lo g is c h v e r s u n k e n is t, b le ib t d ie V e r w a n d t­
s c h a ft d e r s ic h e n tfa lte n d e n K e im -M a te rie m it d e r
E v o lu tio n s re ih e s c h la fe n d e r, tr ä u m e n d e r , w a c h e r
M o n a d e n u n v e rk e n n b a r. J a , L e ib n iz h a t in d ie s e m
P u n k t d e n A v e r r o is m u s g e n e t is c h e r b e d a c h t a ls
B ru n o den G ru n d s a tz d er w achsenden S e lb s t-
h e r v o r b r in g u n g d e r W e lt.

D ie a u f M o r a l g e b ra c h te R e lig io n

W enn B ücher n ic h t gut m ach en , besser oder


s c h l e c h te r m a c h e n s ie d o c h . S o s a g t L ic h te n b e r g ,

57
/

und B ü c h e r , d ie e in e n e u e B a h n b r e c h e n , m a ­
chen v o n d ie s e m S a tz a m w e n ig s te n e in e A u s ­
nahm e. W as d ie j e n ig e n A v ic e n n a s a n g e h t, so
m a c h te n s ie K ö p fe von g e ster n b ed eu ten d
s c h le c h t e r ; d a s g le ic h e g ilt v o n d e n S c h r ifte n d e s
A v e r r o e s . D e n n w ie s o o f t in d e r G e s c h ic h te h a t
e in e in T r ä g h e it b e fa n g e n e o d e r a n g e is tig e r T r ä g -
h e it in t e r e s s ie r t e U m w e lt a n B e d e u te n d e m , d a s
a u f g in g , n u r ih r e e ig e n e B e s c h r ä n k th e it e r fa h r e n ,
v e r m e h r t u n d a r m ie r t . D a s b e s o n d e r s d o r t , w o e in e
G e s e lls c h a ft, w ie d ie a r a b is c h e , n ie d e r g in g , z u
e r s ta r r e n b e g a n n , u n d e in e fe u d a l-k le r ik a le D e c k e
s ic h a u f das vord em so fr isc h b e w e g te , u n te r ­
n e h m u n g s r e ic h e D a s e in le g te . D a s w a r - bevor
d a s A b e n d la n d s e in e R e s ta u r ie r u n g e n und In ­

q u is itio n e n k a n n te - in der a r a b is c h e n K u lt u r
b a ld der F a ll. D ie is la m is c h e O r th o d o x ie hat
an den A u fh eb er n d es G la u b e n s zum W is s e n

R ache g e n o m m e n , s ie s e lb e r a u fg e h o b e n . A v i­
c e n n a s p h ilo s o p h is c h e E n z y k lo p ä d ie w u r d e 1 1 5 0
a u f B efeh l d es K a lif e n von B agdad v e r b r a n n t;

auch sp ä te r w u r d e je d e s e r r e ic h b a r e E x e m p la r
v e r n ic h te t, v o m U r te x t g ib t es n u r B r u c h s tü c k e .

D ie S c h r ifte n d e s A v e r r o e s w u r d e n n o c h z u L e b ­

z e ite n d e s P h ilo s o p h e n , 1 1 9 6 , v e r b r a n n t, g e g e n

das S tu d iu m s e in e r w ie d e r g r ie c h is c h e n P h il o ­

s o p h ie e r g in g e n str e n g e V e r b o te . G o t t , h e iß t e s

im E d ik t des K a life n von C ordova, habe das

H ö lle n fe u e r d en en b e s tim m t, d ie le h r e n , d ie

W a h r h e it k ö n n e d u r c h p u r e V e r n u n f t g e f u n d e n

58
w e rd e n . D e r R e n e g a t u n d M y s tik e r A lg a z e l, d e r
in s e in e r „ D e s tru c tio p h ilo s o p h o ru m “ gegen
A v ic e n n a u n d d ie P h ilo s o p h ie a u f g e tr e te n w a r,
z u m Z w e c k d e r W ie d e r h e r s te llu n g d e r R e lig io n ,
h a tte an s o lc h e n V e r f o lg u n g e n e in e n o b je k tiv
id e o lo g is c h e n A n te il. D e m V o lk w u r d e d ie P h ilo ­
s o p h ie v e r d ä c h tig g e m a c h t, in T a u s e n d u n d e in e
N a c h t, w o r in d ie „ W is s e n s c h a f te n “ a n s ic h n o c h
g e e h r t w e r d e n , w o K e n n t n i s s e f a s t s o w ie V e r s -
k ü n s te d e n W e r t e in e r L ie b e s s k la v in e r h ö h e n , w ir d
A v ic e n n a n u r a ls b ö s e r Z a u b e r e r e r in n e r t. P h ilo ­
s o p h ie w u r d e im O r i e n t s o g e f ä h r l i c h w ie N a t u r ­
w is s e n s c h a f t in I ta l ie n n a c h G a lile is P r o z e ß . D a s
h a t s ic h in d e r N e u z e it z w a r e tw a s g e ä n d e r t, e s
fin d e n s ic h G lo s s a to r e n z u A v ic e n n a , so e in g u te r
p e rs is c h e r a u s d e m s ie b z e h n te n J a h r h u n d e r t, in
K a ir o , a n der g rö ß te n a ra b is c h e n U n iv e rs itä t,
w e r d e n s e it d e m v o r ig e n J a h r h u n d e r t V o r le s u n g e n
ü b e r A v ic e n n a u n d A v e rro e s g e h a lte n , d o c h im
ganzen hat d e r K a te c h is m u s ü b e r d ie m o r g e n ­
lä n d is c h e n D o c to r e s F a u s t g e s ie g t. D ie d o p p e lte
B e f r e iu n g d e r v o r d e r a s ia tis c h e n V ö lk e r : v o m h a lfc -
k o lo n ia le n Z u s ta n d u n d v o n d e r e ig e n e n g e is tig e n
E r s ta r r u n g , w ir d d o r t a u c h d a s m it A v ic e n n a A n ­
g e s c h la g e n e w ie d e r tö n e n la s s e n k ö n n e n . E s is t
d e r N a tu r a lis m u s , u n d z w a r e in e r , w e lc h e r k e in e
u n f a r b ig e , k e in e p u ls lo s e M a te r ie k e n n t. G e w iß
is t d ie is la m is c h e P h ilo s o p h ie n ic h t n u r a u f d ie
A r is to te lis c h e L in k e b e s c h r ä n k t; R e n a n s e tz t, in
s e in e m „A v e rro e s et l ’A v e r r o i s m e “ , s o g a r d ie

59
Ü b e r t r e ib u n g : „ L e v e r k a b le m o u v e m e n t p h ilo -
s o p h i q u e d e l ’i s l a m i s m e d o i t s e c h e r c h e r d a n s l e s
se c te s th e o lo g iq u e s “ . Er d e n k t h ie r b e i an d ie
L a u te r e n B r ü d e r v o n B a sra , d o c h a u ch a n M is c h ­
le h r e n w ie d ie d e r M o t e k a lle m in (d a s is t „ L e h r e r
d es K a la m “ , d e s o ffe n b a r te n W o rts) u n d ih r e
P a r a d o x - V e r b in d u n g v o n A to m is t ik m it e in z ig e r
K a u s a litä t G o t t e s . A u c h d ie s e N ic h t - N a t u r a lis t e n
a b e r w a r e n , a ls S e k t e n h ä u p t e r , k e in e s f a lls K r o n ­
z e u g e n d e r O r th o d o x ie , w ie e s d e n n e in e p h ilo ­
s o p h is c h b e m e rk en sw erte T h e o lo g ie im O r ie n t
ü b erh au p t n ic h t g e g e b e n h a t. W e s h a lb R enan
a n d e r s e it s b e t o n t , in d e m e r z w e i A r t e n P h ilo s o p h ie

u n te r s c h e id e t, d ie th e is tis c h e und d ie n a tu r a ­
lis tis c h e ( m it „ m a tie r e 6 t c r n e lle , E v o lu tio n du
germ e par sa fo r c e la te n te “ ): „L a p h ilo s o p h ie

arabe, e t en p ä r tic u lie r c e lle d ’I b n - R o s c h d , s e


c la s s e de la m a n ie r e la p lu s d £ c id e e dans la

s e c o n d e d e c e s c a t e g o r i e s “ ( A v e r r o e s e t l ’A v e r r o -

is m e , 1852, p. 8 2 ). U nd vor a lle m : n ic h t d ie

p h ilo s o p h is c h -r e lig iö s e n S e k te n tr u g e n d ie „ w a h r e

p h ilo s o p h is c h e B ew egung des I s la m ” , s o n d e r n

d ie s e w ir k te u n d w ir k t e e in z ig f o r t b e i A v ic e n n a

u n d A v erroes. W a s d er H a ß g e g e n V e r n u n ft u n d

W is s e n s c h a ft recht w ohl e r k a n n t e , a ls er s e in

Ä r g e r n is a n b e id e r W e r k e n a h m u n d d a s L ic h t

d a r in e r s t ic k t e .

S o h a b e n h ie r B ü c h e r d i e M e n s c h e n s c h le c h t e r

g e m a c h t u n d w o llt e n s ie d o c h , m it la u t e r W e i ­

s u n g , b e s s e r n . M i t e in e r W e is u n g , d ie g e r a d e d ie

60
ü b e rlie fe rte R e lig io n n ic h t n u r in W is s e n , s o n ­
d e r n , w ie n u n s p ru c h re if, a u c h in Tugend a u f -
h e b e n w o llte . A u c h d ie s e A r t d e s N a tu r a lis ie r e n s
g e h ö r t, w ie a m E n d e b e t o n t w e r d e n m u ß , z u d e r
v o n A v ic e n n a a b e in g e s c h la g e n e n R ic h tu n g . W ie
der th e o re tis c h e I n h a lt d e r R e lig io n h ie r w e it
ü b e r i h r e n B i l d e r n s t e h t u n d s ie a b s tr e i f t, e b e n s o
s te h t der p ra k tis c h e In h a lt der R e lig io n w e it
ü b e r i h r e n Z e r e m o n i e n u n d s t r e i f t s ie n o c h e n t ­
s c h ie d e n e r ab. W as m o ra lis c h b le ib t, is t nach
A v ic e n n a w ie A v e rro e s das n a tü rlic h e S itte n ­
g e s e tz , m i t d e r G e r e c h tig k e it a ls z e n tr a le r T u ­
g e n d . E b e n a ls z e n t r a l e i s t s ie d i e a lle M e n s c h e n ,
u n a b h ä n g ig v o n ih re m G la u b e n , d e m G e w is s e n
nach v e rb in d e n d e ; s ie is t d ie tä tig -a llg e m e in e
G a ttu n g s v e r n u n ft in bezug auf den W ille n .
Ib n T o fa il, d e r von A v ic e n n a b e s tim m te , m it
A v e rro e s v e rb u n d e n e , hat in s e in e m „ P h ilo -
so p h u s a u to d id a c tu s “ n i c h t z u le tz t d ie s n a t ü r ­
lic h e S itte n g e s e tz ü b e r d e n R e lig io n e n illu s tr ie r t.
A ls s e in p h i l o s o p h i s c h e r R o b i n s o n z u d e n M e n ­
s c h e n z u r ü c k k a m , f ü h lte e r Ü b e r d r u ß a n d e n r e li­
g iö s e n Z e r e m o n ie n , a u c h G e s e tz e n , m iß b illig te ,
d a ß M o h a m m e d d e n M e n s c h e n i n d ie s e n G e s e tz e n
so g ar S c h ä tz e u n d V e rm e h ru n g ih re s V e rm ö g e n s
e r la u b t h a b e , g a b je d o c h z u , d a ß a lle W e is h e it,
Z u r e c h tw e is u n g u n d B e s s e r u n g , d e r e n d ie M e n ­
sc h e n f ä h ig s e ie n , in d e m V o rtra g d e s P ro p h e te n
e n th a lt e n s e i, n i c h t a n d e r s f r e i l i c h w ie b e i M o s e s
u n d d e m P r o p h e te n J e s u s a u c h . D ie s e T o le r a n z

6 1
is t d e s h a lb m ö g lic h , w e il d a s B e s te a m r e lig iö s e n
G e s e tz e b e n s e in n ic h t- r e lig iö s e r K e r n s e in s o ll:
d ie S it t lic h k e it . H a u p ta b s ic h t d es I b n -T o fa il-
R om ans is t es ja gerad e, zu z eig en , daß der
M e n s c h o h n e K e n n t n is e in e r p o s it iv e n R e lig io n
n ic h t n u r z u r E r k e n n tn is G o t t e s u n d d e r N a t u r
g e la n g e n k ö n n e , so n d e r n e b e n s o z u r W e is h e it d er
T u g e n d . N a t ü r lic h e s S it t e n g e s e t z g ilt h ie r a ls o
s o w o h l a ls K r ite r iu m u n d S a n k tio n w ie a ls I n h a lt
d e r n a t ü r lic h e n R e lig io n n a c h ih r e r p r a k t is c h e n
S e ite . D ie E ig e n s c h a f t e n G o t t e s s in d n ic h t s e in e ,
s o n d e r n V o r b ild e r fü r d ie M e n s c h e n , ih r e r G e s in ­
n u n g w ie d er H a n d lu n g , d ie s ie b e w ä h r t. B e i M a i-
m o n id e s , d e m j ü d is c h e n A r is to te lik e r , A v ic e n n a
u n d A v er r o e s n ic h t g a n z fe r n s te h e n d , e r s c h ie n d a s ,
in s e in e m „F ührer d e r V e r ir r te n “ , s o , d a ß das

W is s e n um G o tt a u f d ie je n ig e n A ttr ib u te be­
s c h r ä n k t w ir d , w e lc h e a u s s c h lie ß lic h d e n M en­
s c h e n , n ä m lic h d ie S it t lic h k e it b e tr e ffe n . U nd

a u c h v o n h ie r a u s h a t d e r m o r g e n lä n d is c h e N a ­
t u r a lis m u s n a c h E u r o p a g e w ir k t ; s o a u f A b ä la r d ,
s o a u f R o g e r B a c o , so z u le tz t a u f d ie e u r o p ä is c h e
A u fk lä r u n g d es s ie b z e h n te n und a c h tz e h n te n

J a h r h u n d e r ts. S ta tt d e s K o r a n s w u r d e v o n A b ä ­

la r d d er D e k a lo g g e se tz t u n d d a s E v a n g e liu m ,

b e id e b r a c h t e n d a s a lle n M e n s c h e n in s G e w i s s e n

e in g e s c h r ie b e n e G u te n u r z u m h e lle n A u s d r u c k .

R o g e r B a c o le h r te g le ic h fa lls d a s S itte n g e s e tz a ls

f ü r a lle M e n s c h e n g le ic h - e in le u c h t e n d u n d v o n

g le ic h e m I n h a lt; e s m a c h t n a c h ih m sogar den

62
In h a lt je d e r k ü n f tig e n , je d e r nur m ö g lic h e n
U n iv e r s a lr e lig io n aus. U nd w as w ill S p in o z a ,
nach la n g e n . J a h r h u n d e r te n , d o c h dem o rie n ­
ta lis c h e n K u ltu r k r e is n ä h e r a ls ir g e n d e in a n d e r e r
gro ß er D e n k e r, im „ T h e o lo g is c h -p o litis c h e n
T ra k ta t“ d r in g e n d e r z e ig e n , a ls d a ß d a s W e s e n
d e r R e lig io n n ic h t in d e r A n erk en n u n g e in z e l­
n e r D o g m en , so n d ern in der hum anen G e s in ­
nung und der d a ra u s e n tflie ß e n d e n P r a x is
b e s te h e ? D e r I n h a l t d e r r e lig iö s e n S y m b o le m a g
d u rc h M o ral n ic h t e rs c h ö p ft s e in , aber er is t
w e s e n lo s , w e n n e r n ic h t je n e s H u m a n u m e n th ä lt,
d a s in d e r M o r a l s ic h b e w ä h r t. D e s to s c h lim m e r
f ü r d ie R e l ig io n , w e n n s ie d e m w i d e r s p r i c h t , d e s to
a d ä q u a t e r f ü r d ie M o r a l i t ä t , w e n n s ie d a s h u m a n e
T ie fe n e le m e n t in g ro ß e n re lig iö s e n U rk u n d e n a u s
dem M y th o s h e ra u s a u c h a u f d ie E rd e b rin g t.
U nd der N a tu ra lis m u s s te h t der M o ra litä t so
w e n ig e n tg e g e n , d a ß e r g e r a d e a ls S ta n d o r t d e r
D ie s s e itig k e it s ic h v o r tr e f f lic h a u f d ie F rü c h te
v e rs te h t, an denen d ie G ü te je d e s G la u b e n s
zu e rk e n n e n is t. E benso w ie er s ic h auf d ie
B esseru n g v e rs te h t, w e lc h e e in ird is c h e r W eg
is t, k e in h im m lis c h e r . D ie v o n A v ic e n n a h e r i n ­
te n d ie r te V e r w a n d lu n g d e r R e lig io n in B e s s e r u n g
w a r b e g r ü n d e t a u f n a tü rlic h e m L i c h t; v o r a lle m
aber sah auch s ie s ic h au f dem B oden e in e r
W e lt, d e r e n F o r m e n n ic h ts s in d , w e n n in ih n e n
s ic h k e i n S to f f f o r m ie r t.

63
A risto teles und d ie nicht-m echanische M a te r ie

N u r je n e s E r in n e r n is t fru c h tb a r, d a s z u g le ic h
a n d a s e r in n e r t, w as n o c h z u tu n is t. D ie A r is to ­
te lis c h e L i n k e is t la n g e h e r u n d w u r d e h a l b v e r ­
s c h ü tte t, h e u t e ta u c h t s ie v o r e r f r is c h te m B lic k
n e u a u f. V o r a lle m i n ih r e r W e n d u n g d e s S to f F -
F o rm -V e rh ä ltn is s e s ta u c h t s ie w ie d e r a u f, in
e in e r a m A s p e k t d e r M a te rie h o c h in te re s s ie rte n
Z e it. H egel is t w ic h tig d u rc h d ie d ia le k tis c h e
M e th o d e , a b e r A r is to te le s u n d s e in e L i n k e s i n d
w ic h tig w e g e n ih r e s B e g riffs v o n M a te r ie . I s t s i e
doch b ei ih m d ie b e w e g u n g s r e ic h e , f o r m r e i c h e ,
d ie ü b e r q u a n tita tiv e r G r u n d la g e q u a li ta ti v s i c h
e n tw ic k e ln d e . S ie i s t a ls S u b s t r a t d i e s e r s t u f e n ­
w e is e n E n t w i c k lu n g e b e n s o d ie a ll e s - „ n a c h M a ß ­
g a b e des M ö g lic h e n ** - b ed ingende , w ie v o r a l l e m ,
d ie fü r alles - a ls „ I n - M ö g lic h k e it- S e in " , a ls „ o b je k ­
tiv e M ö g l i c h k e i t ' - v e r a n la g te. D a s i s t e i n r e i c h e r e r
B e g r if f d e r M a t e r i e a ls d e r b lo ß m e c h a n i s c h e , b l e i b t
d ie s e r a u c h d u r c h a u s s e in e s O r ts b e s te h e n , d o c h
u n te rh a lb der w e ite re n , q u a lita tiv e n B ew egun­
g e n , V e r ä n d e r u n g e n , V e r w a n d lu n g e n . U nd d er
B e g r iff F o r m b e i A r is to te le s : i s t s ie b e i ih m be­
re its m it d e m S to ff z u v e r m itte ln g e s u c h t d u r c h
d e n B e z ie h u n g s b e g r if f E n tw ic k lu n g , s o w u r d e s ie
in d e r A r is to te lis c h e n L in k e n f a s t g ä n z lic h z u r
im m a n e n te n D a s e in s w e is e , D a s e in s f o r m d e r M a ­
te r ie s e lb s t. D a s a lle s is t e in k a u m g e n ü g e n d b e ­
a c h te te s K a p ite l in d e r k a u m g e n ü g e n d b e a c h te te n

6 4
G e s c h ic h te d e s B e g riffs M a te rie . F o rm en s in d
m a te rie lle F ig u rb ild u n g e n , u n d d ie B ew egung
a u f d ie s e B il d u n g e n h i n , w ie i m m e r w ie d e r d u r c h
s ie h in d u r c h , m a c h t, d a ß n ic h t n u r d ie B e w e g u n g
n a c h A r is to te le s e in e „ u n v o lle n d e te E n te le c h ie “
is t, s o n d e r n d a ß a u c h d ie je w e ils a u s g e p r ä g te E n ­
te le c h ie a ls s e lb e r n o c h u n v o lle n d e te b e g riffe n
w ird . U nd das eben k ra ft des w e ite rla u fe n d e n
„ d y n a m e i o n “ , „ I n - M ö g lic h k e it - S e in s “ , a ls o d e r
o b je k tiv -r e a le n M ö g lic h k e it , d e r e n S u b s tr a t d ie
D a se in sm a terie in sg e sa m t d a r s te llt , d i e i n i h r e n
H o riz o n te n n o c h u n a b g e s c h lo s s e n e . A n d e r m e ­
c h a n is c h -s ta tis c h e n M a te rie g ib t e s k e in e n P ro z e ß
u n d k e in e D ia le k tik : A u fg a b e is t d a h e r, d a s S u b ­
s tr a t d e s d ia le k tis c h e n P r o z e s s e s a u c h n a c h S e ite
d es R e a l-M ö g lic h e n im m e r te n d e n z k u n d ig e r z u
v e r s te h e n . D i e m e n s c h l ic h e w ie p h y s is c h e W e lt is t
s e lb e r e in e ih re r R e ife , d e r R e if e ih r e r A n la g e
n o c h e n tg e g e n g e h e n d e . I h r S to f f is t d e r in R ic h ­
tu n g s e in e r w e s e n tlic h e n D a s e in s f o r m s ic h f o r t
u n d f o r t a u s g e s ta lte n d e , a u s g e s ta ltb a re , u n d d a s
e r f ü llte T o t u m d ie s e r D a s e in s f o r m s te h t a ls r e a le
M ö g lic h k e it s e lb e r n o c h b e v o r.

V er w a n d lu n g des A r is to te le s d u rc h seine L in k e ,
V e r w a n d lu n g dieser L in k e n selber

D a m it is t z w e if e llo s d e r B e g r if f v o n S to f f u n d
F o rm seh r v ie l w e ite r v e r w a n d e l t . Sow ohl an
A r is to te le s n o c h m a ls w ie n ic h t v ie l w e n ig e r a n

5 .U 1 7 65
d e n V e r w a n d lu n g e n , d ie er b e i s e in e r L in k e n e r ­
fa h r e n h a t. V ö llig a u fg e h o b e n is t z u n ä c h st d as
P a s s iv u m am A r is to te lis c h e n B e g r iff d e s M ö g ­
lic h e n , w i e e s a u f g a n z a b str a k te W e is e m it d e m
B e g r if f M a t e r ie g le ic h g e s e t z t is t. D a s a n g e b lic h
b lo ß p a s s iv M ö g lic h e , d ie s nur e m p fa n g e n d e
W a c h s , z e i g t s ic h a ls „ A n la g e z u e t w a s “ d u r c h a u s
n ic h t b lo ß w a c h sh a ft oder s c h le c h t h in u n b e­
s tim m t; es is t v ie lm e h r v o lle r W ir k f o r m , w o ­
d u rch das M ö g lic h e s ic h a k t iv z u den in ih m

drängenden neu en W ir k lic h k e ite n h erau sm ach t


u n d o r g a n is ie r t. D och so seh r a u ch d er B e g r iff

d e r m a te r ie lle n W ir k lic h k e it g e g e n d a s A r is t o t e ­

lis c h e v e r ä n d e r t w e r d e n m u ß : d ie G r ö ß e d e s G e ­

d a n k e n s , d ie w a h r h a ft z u k u n fttr a g e n d e , m it d e r

A r is to te le s M ö g lic h k e it ü b e r h a u p t u n d M a te r ie

zu sam m en a b g e b ild e t h a t, e r s c h e in t dadurch

d e sto fr u c h tb a r e r . A u c h is t d ie a n g e g e b e n e B e ­

d e u tu n g s v e r s c h ie b u n g im A r is to te lis c h e n Syn­

o n y m v o n A n la g e u n d M ö g lic h k e it b e r e it s s e lb e r

a n g e le g t u n d so von d e r A r is to te lis c h e n L in k e n

doch nur w e ite r e n tw ic k e lt. M it dem von A v i-

c e n n a e in g e le ite te n U m b r u c h , d e r n u n e b e n a u c h

d ie F o r m d e r M a te r ie s o p o te n z ie ll w ie p o te n z ­

h a ft, so p o te n z h a ft w ie p o t e n z ie ll in n e w o h n e n d

z e ig t.

M a te r ie , sa g t derart d ie A r is to te lis c h e L in k e ,

is t d a s je n ig e , w a s d ie ih m e ig e n tü m lic h e n F or­

m en in s ic h tr ä g t u n d in s e in e r B e w e g u n g z u r

V e r w ir k lic h u n g b r in g t. O ffe n s ic h tlic h z u g le ic h

6 6
im p liz ie r t d ie s e - f a s t v o n d e r g a n z e n N a tu r p h il o ­
s o p h ie d e r R e n a is s a n c e ü b e r n o m m e n e - B e s tim ­
m u n g e in F e u e r , e in e n H o r iz o n t v o ll la u te r W e r d e ­
lu s t. E s i s t w a h r , d ie s e b lü h e n d e B e s tim m u n g e r ­
gab n ic h t d ie S c h ä rfe , w o m it d e r m e c h a n is c h e
B e g r iff s ic h n a c h h e r a u s g e z e ic h n e t h a t , d o c h s ie
v e rm ie d d a f ü r e in e b lo ß e T e ild e f in itio n d e r M a ­
te rie , i h r e r B e w e g u n g e n u n d G e s ta ltu n g e n . D ie
von d e r A ris to te lis c h e n L in k e n g e le h rte E in b e ­
z ie h u n g a lle r F o r m e n in d e n S to ff , a lso a u c h d e r o r ­
g a n is c h e n u n d in te lle k tu e lle n , v e rh in d e rte in n u c e
b e r e its d ie V e r k ü r z u n g , d ie d e m B e g r iff M a te r ie
d u r c h V e r a b s o lu tie r u n g d e r M e c h a n ik , a ls o d u r c h
M e c h a n is tik , a n g e ta n w o rd e n is t. D a h e r r ü h m t
M a rx , in der „ H e ilig e n F a m ilie “ (M eg a 1 3 ,
S. 3 0 4 f .) , d ie R e n a is s a n c e -D im e n s io n d e r M a te rie ,
d ie s e b e re its von der A r is to te lis c h e n L in k e n
b e d e u te te : „ U n t e r d e n d e r M a te rie e in g e b o re n e n
E ig e n s c h a f te n is t d ie B e w e g u n g d ie e r s te u n d v o r ­
z ü g lic h s te , n i c h t n u r a ls m e c h a n is c h e u n d m a t h e ­
m a tis c h e B e w e g u n g , s o n d e r n m e h r n o c h a ls T r i e b ,
L e b e n s g e is t, S p a n n k r a f t , a ls Q u a l - u m d e n A u s ­
d ru c k Ja k o b B ö h m e s z u g e b ra u c h e n - der M a­
te rie . D ie p r im itiv e n F o r m e n d e r le tz te r e n s in d
le b e n d ig e , in d iv id u a lis ie r e n d e , ih r in h ä r e n te , d ie
s p e z ifis c h e n U n te rs c h ie d e p ro d u z ie re n d e W e s e n s ­
k rä f te . I n B a c o , . . b ir g t d e r M a te r ia lis m u s n o c h
a u f e in e n a iv e W e ise d ie K e im e e in e r a lls e itig e n
E n tw ic k lu n g i n s ic h . D i e M a t e r i e l a c h t in p o e ­
tis c h - s in n lic h e m G la n z d e n g a n z e n M e n s c h e n a n .

67
D i e a p h o r is t is c h e D o k t r in s e lb s t w i m m e l t d a g e ­
gen noch von th e o lo g is c h e n I n k o n s e q u e n z e n .“
E s is t d ie s o b e z e ic h n e te I n k o n s e q u e n z , d i e der
M a t e r ia lis m u s v o n H o b b e s ab g ä n z lic h a u s d er
W e lt g e s c h a fft h a t, d o c h b e i B r u n o b e r e it s , d e m
M a t e r ia lis t e n d e r n a tu r a n a tu r a n s, f in d e t s ic h d i e s e
th e o lo g is c h e In k on seq u en z nur p a n th e is tis c h .
S o n s t is t d ie e n d lic h m it P o te n z e r fü llte M a t e r i e
m ä c h t ig g e n u g , u m d e s G e is t e s , d e r d ie p a s s i v e v o n
a u ß e n s t ö ß t , z u e n t r a t e n . D a s a ls o is t d i e e r s te V e r ­
w a n d lu n g , a l s d i e v o n d e r L i n k e n a n A r i s t o t e l e s
s c h o n b e g o n n e n e : d i e A k tiv ie r u n g d er M a t e r i e .

D o c h a u c h s o is t d ie F r u c h t a u s d e m d a m a ls n e u
e r la n g te n S t o f f - F o r m - V e r h ä lt n is n o c h n i c h t v o l l

g e r e if t . D e n n - u n d d a m it w ir d d ie V e r w a n d l u n g
der A r is to te lis c h e n L in k e n s e lb e r a n g e z e ig t -
a u c h B r u n o s b lü h e n d e M a t e r ie is t e in e im g a n z e n

b e r e its fe r t ig e . B r u n o n im m t m it d e r L e h r e v o n

d er im W e lt a ll z u E n d e r e a lis ie r te n S t o f f - M ö g ­

lic h k e it d e n A v ic e n n a w ie d e n A v e r r o e s a u f , a l s

w e lc h e b e id e ih r e F o r m - M a te r ie s c h o n z u E n d e

g e b a u t s e in lie ß e n . A b e r d ie s e le tz th in n ig e S t a t ik

i s t b e i B r u n o a u f f a lle n d e r a ls b e i d e r e i g e n t l i c h

A r is to te lis c h e n L in k e n u n d g a r w ie b e i A r is t o t e le s

s e lb s t . D e n n w e n n d ie g e s t a lt e n - s c h w a n g e r e M a ­

te r ie , d ie s ic h e w ig v e r w a n d e ln d e , tr o tz d e m im

ganzen fe r tig is t, s tills te h t, d a n n b lic k t d a s b ei

dem K o p e r n ik a n e r B ru no, sod an n bei d em

K o s m o lo g e n e in e r u n e n d lic h e n F o r m s c h w a n g e r ­

sc h a ft anders d r e in a ls bei P h ilo s o p h e n d es

6 8
M itte la lte rs . A v ic e n n a und A v erro es le b te n im
p to le m ä is c h e n S y s te m , ih r S to f f - F o r m - V e r h ä ltn is
s e lb e r w a r t r o t z n a tu r a n a tu r a n s im m e r n o c h h ie r ­
a rc h isc h in e in e W e ltk u g e l g e b a u t. D o c h auch
d e r K o p e rn ik a n e r B ru n o , d e r D e n k e r g ä re n d e r
U n e n d l i c h k e i t , l ä ß t d ie M a te r i e s e in e s W e lta lls
a ls f e r t i g e s c h o n s e in , w a s s ie s e in k a n n , m i t d e m
A r g u m e n t, d a ß im G a n z e n d e s U n iv e r s u m s a lle
M ö g lic h k e ite n b e r e its v e r w ir k lic h t s e in m ü ß te n ,
d e n n s o n s t e r m a n g e lte d ie V o llk o m m e n h e it d ie s e s
G anzen ja e in e s S c h lu s s e s , u n d s ie w ä r e n i c h t
v o llk o m m e n . B ru n o hat z w e ife llo s m it d ie s e r
G a n z h e its -S ta tik e in S tü c k P to le m ä u s in der
P h ilo s o p h ie b e ib e h a lte n , v e r m e h r t s o g a r u m d a s
th e o lo g is c h e „ P o s s e s t“ , das a b s o lu t v o lle n d e te
„ K ö n n e n s e in “ , w o m it N ik o la u s v o n C u s a h u n ­
d e rt Ja h re v o rh e r d ie V o llc n d e th e it in s e in e m
G o tte s b e g riff d e fin ie rt h a tte . M it a lld e m hat
a u c h B r u n o d e r v o n M a rx b e z e ic h n e te n S p a n n k ra ft
d es R e n a is s a n c e -M a te ria lis m u s , d es v o n B ru n o so
g ro ß v e rtre te n e n , d ie e ig e n tlic h e P r o d u k tio n s -
D im e n s ic n v e rs p e rrt. D ie S p a n n k ra ft d e r B ru n o -
W e lt, d e r r a d ik a le n P o te n tia litä t- P o te n z - M a te r ie
s c h lä g t z w a r im d a u e rn d e n P u ls d e r G e g e n s ä tz e
u n d ih r e r L e b e n d ig k e it, d e n n o c h e b e n r u h t d a s
G a n z e in la u te r e r s ta tis c h e r H a r m o n ie d ie s e r G e ­
g e n s ä tz e , ja m a c h t d ie s e S ta tik a u c h n o c h in d e n
z e itlic h e n D a u e rg e b ild e n , rä u m lic h e n G ro ß k ö r­
p e r n d e s U n iv e r s u m s s ic h tb a r . D a s a b e r b lo c k ie r t
g e n a u d ie s ic h a u s g e s ta lte n d e M ö g lic h k e it o d e r d ie

6 9
v o n A v ic e n n a b is B ru no e r ö ffn e te L e b e n s f ü lle
d e r M a t e r ie , e s u n t e r b r ic h t d ie in ih r e m w a h r e n
G anzen und T o tu m n och n ic h t a u s g e t r a g e n e .
V o ll v e r w ir k lic h t e M ö g lic h k e it is t k e in e , e in b e ­
r e its a ls f e r t ig g e s e t z t e s A ll- L e b e n s e t z t a u c h d a s
a k t iv b e g r iffe n e „ d y n a m e i o n “ le tz th in in H a l­
b ie r te s , w o n ic h t in e in e n a n d e r e n M e c h a n is m u s
d e r U n le b e n d ig k e it . D e r g le ic h e n a lso m a c h t d i e
z w e ite V e r w a n d lu n g der großen S to ff-F o r m -
T r a d itio n u n a b w e n d b a r , e in e V e r w a n d lu n g , w i e
s ie n u n m e h r d e n H o r iz o n t d e r S t o f f - M ö g lic h k e it ,
n i c h t n u r i h r e P a s s iv i tä t b e t r i f f t . A uch d ie so
g e se tz te V e r w a n d lu n g , das m uß b eto n t w er­
den, is t sch on im A r is t o t e lis c h e n B e g r iff der
A n la g e im p liz ie r t , a ls e in e r n ic h t nur a k tiv ­
d is p o s itio n e lle n , s o n d e r n e b e n s o a n tiz ip a t o r is c h -
la t e n t e n A n la g e . U n d e s is t d e r e n m it g ä r e n d e r

Z u k u n ft g e fü llte L a te n z , d ie g e n a u d ie F r u c h t­

b a r k e it d er M a te r ie a u sm a c h t, ih r e F ä h ig k e it,
s ic h in im m e r neuen D a s e in s fo r m e n zu m a n i­

f e s t ie r e n . U n d n ic h t n u r in im m e r n e u e n , s o n ­

d e r n in im m e r g e n a u e r e n D a s e in s f o r m e n , a ls s o l ­

c h e n , d ie d e m n o c h n ic h t h e r a u s g e b r a c h te n K e r n

d ie s e s D a s e in s im m e r a d ä q u a te r s in d . E b e n in Z i e l ­

r ic h tu n g d e r w e s e n tlic h e n D a s e in s fo r m je n e s a u s ­

s t e h e n d e n T o t u m , in d e m d ie r e a le M ö g lic h k e it

n ic h t a b g e b r o c h e n , s o n d e r n r e a lis ie r t w ä r e . D a s

n o c h L a te n te in d e r A n la g e d e r W e lt in s g e s a m t

e r k lä r t erst d ie P rozeßm ühe und G e s ta lte n -

fiille , w o m it das L a te n te s ic h fo r ts c h r e ite n d

7 0
h e ra u s a rb e ite t, m a n if e s tie r t. A ber w e il dem
so is t, w e il der b e r ic h tig te M ö g lic h k e its b e g r if f
d e r A r is to te lis c h e n M a te r ie d ie b e s te A b b ild u n g
d e r w ir k lic h e n M a te r ie - A n la g e d a r s te llt, d a r f d a s
S u b s tr a t d e r d ia le k tis c h s ic h h e r a u s p r o z e s s ie r e n ­
d e n , s ic h im m e r w ie d e r d u rc h b re c h e n d e n D a­
s e in s f o r m e n n ic h t d u rc h d ie a lte P a n -M a te rie
u m ru n d e t w e rd e n . E ben d ie a b s c h lie ß e n d e
H im m e ls d e c k e is t h ie r n o c h n ic h t g e s p r e n g t, d ie
K re is -Id o la trie is t n o c h n ic h t a u fg e h o b e n , d ie
g le ic h e f a s t, d ie u n te r s o g a n z a n d e r e n Z e ic h e n ,
a u s d e r R u n d u n g d e s R a u m s in d ie d e r Z e it g e ­
b ra c h t, noch bei H egel den P ro z e ß s ta b ilis ie r t
h a t. B e g r iff s lo s b l i e b d a r u m d ie G eb u rt des N e u e n
aus d e m F u n d u s der o b je k tiv -r e a le n M ö g lic h k e it ,
aus d er M a te r ie als S u b s tr a t dieser M ö g lich k e it.
E rst der h is to r is c h - d ia le k tis c h e M a te r ia lis m u s ,
der au f den H o riz o n t der Z u k u n ft bezogene,
s c h a f f t d e m R e m e d u r . A b e r s e in B e g riff d e r d ia le k ­
tis c h e n M a te rie , m it d e r S p a n n k ra ft ih re r L e ­
b e n d ig k e it, is t u n d b le ib t a lle m a l a u c h A ris to te le s
z u D a n k v e r p f lic h te t u n d d e n s e lb e r n o c h n ic h t
b e e n d e te n F o lg e n d e r A r is to te lis c h e n L in k e n . S o
w u r d e d ie s e h ie r e r in n e r t - A v ic e n n a s ta u s e n d ­
jä h rig e r G e d e n k ta g is t z u g le ic h e in e r an e in
f r ü h e r e s , n i c h t e r le d ig te s M a t e r i e b i l d o l^ n e M e c h a -
n is tik . E s w a r g e w iß v o ll w e it g r ö ß e r e r th e o lo g i­
sch er In k o n se q u e n z e n a ls das M a te rie b ild der
R e n a is s a n c e , d o c h d ie s e s in d d u rc h sc h a u t u n d
a b g e ta n . W a s h ö c h s t b e d e n k e n s w ü r d ig b le ib t, is t

7 i
„ d y n a m e i o n “ a ls W i r k u n g s k r a f t u n d S a m e n , is
„m a te r ia u n iv e r s a lis “ , d ie d ie W e lt i m In n e rs te .
w ie Ä u ß e rste n , im E rs te n w ie L e tz te n , u ru fc-
g e s c h l o s s e n Z u s a m m e n h a l t . A u c h d i e M a t e r i e u l sc
h a t ih re U to p ie ; in d e r o b je k tiv -re a le n M ö g l i c h ­
k e it h ö r t d ie s e a u f, e in e a b s tr a k te z u s e in .

Kunst, die Stoff~Form entbindend

Z u le tz t e n tw ic k e lt d ie m e n s c h lic h e A rb e it d as
v o r h a n d e n e D a s e in f o r t. S ie v e r ä n d e r t d i e G e g e n ­
s tä n d e , in d e m s ie s ie f ü r u n s e r e Z w e c k e g e s e tz ­
m ä ß ig u m le ite t o d e r w e ite r f ü h r t. D ie A r b e i t d e r
k ü n s tl e r is c h e n G e s t a l t u n g is t davon n u r d u rc h
d ie A rt des Z w ecks v e rs c h ie d e n , e in e s u n te r ­
h a lte n d -b e d e u te n d e n , zu dem s ie das v o n ih r
E rg riffe n e fo rtb ild e t. In d e m das U n te rh a lte n d -
B e d e u te n d e im m e r im w e se n h a ft g e k lä rte n o d e r
e rh ö h te n S u je t g e s c h ie h t, s te llt s ic h a b e r e i n n o t­
w e n d ig e r B ezug zu dem h e ra u s, w as A v ic e n n a
a ls d is p o s iti o n e ll e n S to ff b e z e ic h n e t h a t . V ö llig
m it d e r T r a d itio n d e s fo rm trä c h tig e n u n d w e i t e r
z u e n t b in d e n d e n S to ffs i s t d e r g e s ta lt e i n e Ä u ß e ­
r u n g L e s s in g s v e r b u n d e n . D e r M a le r in „ E m i l i a
G a lo tti“ ( i . A u fz u g , 4 . A u f tr itt) , d e r d e m P r i n z e n
d a s b e s t e l l t e B ild b r i n g t , s p r i c h t L e s s i n g s e i g e n e
M e in u n g a u s , u n d z w a r in d ie s e n a n A r i s t o t e l e s ,
e rst re c h t an A v ic e n n a -A v e rro e s g em ah n en d en
W o rte n : „ D ie K u n st m uß m a le n , w ie s ic h d ie

7 2
p la s tis c h e N a t u r - w e n n es e i n e g ib t - d a s B ild
d a c h t e : o h n e d e n A b f a ll, w e lc h e n d e r w id e r s tr e ­
b e n d e S to ff u n v e rm e id lic h m a c h t, o h n e d e n V e r ­
d e r b , m it w e lc h e m d ie Z e it d a g e g e n a n k ä m p f t.“
D er w id e rs tre b e n d e S to f f , d a s is t d ie M a te rie
d e s „ N a c h - M ö g li c h k e it - S e in s “ , a ls S tö r u n g o d e r
H e m m u n g g e n o m m e n ; d ie v e r m u te te p la s tis c h e
N a tu r a b e r , s ic h ih r B ild d e n k e n d , d as is t d ie
M a te r ie d e s „ I n - M ö g lic h k e it- S e in s “ , d u r c h d e n
K ü n s tle r w e ite r a k tu a lis ie r t. U nd zw ar - w as
g e ra d e a u f d ie A r is to te lis c h e L in k e h in w e is t -
a ls n i c h t p a s s iv e , s o n d e r n a k t i v e M a te r ie , d a s i s t ,
a ls n a t u r a n a tu r a n s , d ie e b e n ih r e e ig e n e P o te n z -
P o te n t ia l itä t i m K ü n s t l e r w e i t e r a k tu a lis ie rt. V o r ­
h a n d e n e s D a s e in w ir d m ith in n ic h t s k la v isc h a b ­
g e m a lt, n o c h a b e r a u c h m it a u fg e p rä g te r F o r m
v e rg e w a ltig t, s o n d e r n d a s in s e in e m S to ff A n g e ­
l e g te , g e g e b e n e n f a l ls n i c h t z u r v o lle n D e u t l i c h ­
k e it A u s g e r e if te w ird k ü n s tle ris c h zu E n d e g e ­
tr i e b e n . A lle K u n s t i s t in L e s s in g s a v e r r o is t is c h e m
D ik tu m g e trie b e n e , p la s tis c h w e ite r g e tr ie b e n e
A r b e it, w ie im g e fo rm te n M a te ria l, so im ge­
f o r m te n S u je t- S to f f d e s G e g e n s ta n d s . J a , s o v e r ­
s c h ie d e n e , v e r s c h ie d e n r a n g ig e D e n k e r w ie S c h o ­
p e n h a u e r u n d H e g e l s in d in d e m G edanken d er
k ü n s tle ris c h e n F o r m - E n tb in d u n g aus d er fo rm -
s c h w a n g e r e n S to f f - N a tu r e i n ig . B e id e a l le r d in g s
m it re la tiv e r H e ra b s e tz u n g der N a tu r, m it
V e r w a n d lu n g des K ü n s tle rs in das, w as vom
„ d a to r f o r m a r u m “ g e b lie b e n is t. So b e h a u p te t

73
S c h o p e n h a u e r v o m k ü n s t le r is c h e n G e n iu s , d a ß e r
„ g le ic h s a m d ie N a t u r a u f h a lb e m W o r te v e r s t e h t
u n d n u n r e i n a u s s p r i c h t , w a s s ie n u r s t a m m e lt ,
d a ß e r d ie S c h ö n h e it d er F o r m . . . d em h a r te n
M a r m o r a u f d r ü c k t, s ie d e r N a t u r g e g e n ü b e r s t e llt ,
ih r g le ic h s a m z u r u f e n d : ,D a s w a r e s , w a s d u s a g e n
w o l l t e s t ! ' u n d ,J a , d a s w a r e s ! c h a llt e s a u s d e m
K e n n e r w id e r “ ( W e lt a ls W ille u n d V o r s t e llu n g
I § 4 5 ) . H e g e l a b e r , tr o tz s e in e r Z u r ü c k h a lt u n g
gegen das n o ch u n g e s ta lte te N a tu r sc h ö n e , b e ­
k e n n t e b e n s o L e s s in g is c h : „ W ie v o n d e m Ä u ß e ­
ren des m e n s c h lic h e n K örpers g esa g t is t, daß
a n d er O b e r flä c h e d e s s e lb e n , im G e g e n sa tz d e s
t ie r is c h e n , s ic h ü b e r a ll d a s p u ls ie r e n d e H e r z z e i g t ,
in d e m s e lb e n S in n e k a n n v o n d e r K ir n s t b e h a u p ­
te t w er d en , d a ß s ie d a s E r s c h e in e n d e an a lle n
P u n k t e n s e in e r O b e r flä c h e z u m A u g e u m z u w a n ­

d e ln h a b e . . . S o lä ß t s ic h v o n d e r K u n s t s a g e n ,
s ie m a c h e j e d e ih r e r G e s t a lt e n z u e in e m t a u s e n d ­

ä u g ig e n A r g u s , d a m it d ie in n e r e S e e le u n d G e i ­

s t ig k e it a n a lle n P u n k t e n d e r E r s c h e in u n g g e s e h e n

w e r d e “ ( V o r l e s u n g e n ü b e r d i e Ä s t h e t i k , W e r k e X 1,

S . 1 9 7 ). A u c h in d ie s e r D e f in it io n w ir d d e u t l i c h

e in e A r t k ü n s tle r is c h e r H e r a u s fü h r u n g la te n te r

F o r m -I n h a lte b e z e ic h n e t . D a s z w a r n a c h M a ß g a b e

e in e s ä s th e tis c h e n I d e a ls , d o c h e in e s in d er b e ­

w e g te n E r s c h e in u n g im m a n e n t v o r g e b ild e te n .

S o n u n t r it t d e r n e u e r e K ü n s t le r a ls d ie z u g l e i c h

e n tb in d e n d e und v o lle n d e n d e K r a ft a u f. D er­

g e s ta lt, d a ß er d ie im S t o f f a n g e le g te G e s t a lt u n g

74

/
d e s S to ff e s k la r u n d d e u tlic h h e r a u s b r in g t, h e r ­
a u s s te llt. F o rm , „ G e is tig k e it“ , w ir d d a d u rc h
id e n tis c h m it dem im m a n e n t- e n te le c h e tis c h e n
T y p u s d e r D in g e , d e r C h a r a k te r e , d e r S itu a tio n e n .
A v ic e n n a h a tte d ie F o r m d ie „ f e u r ig e W a h r h e it“
d e s S to ff s g e n a n n t, A v e rro e s lie ß d ie se W a h r h e it
d u rc h d ie „ k r e is e n d e B e w e g u n g d e s H im m e ls “
w a c h s e n d in d e r M a te rie h e r v o r tr e te n . D e r K ü n s t­
le r f r e il ic h f in d e t s ic h in d e r A r i s to te li s c h e n L in k e n
w ie b e i G io r d a n o B r u n o n u r a ls u n iv e r s a l e o d e r
p a n t h e i s t i s c h e n a t u r a n a t u r a n s , n i c h t a ls in d i v i­
d u e l l e . D i e B e t o n u n g d e s K ü n s t l e r s s e l b e r a ls d e s
v o lle n d e n d e n B e w e g e rs k a m in d ie N e u z e it e rs t
d u rc h den g ro ß e n H u m a n is te n J u liu s C aesar
S c a lig e r ; ebenso je d o c h w ar S c a lig e r m it d e m
N a tu ra lis m u s von Padua, der H o c h b u rg des
A v e r r o is m u s , v e r b u n d e n . S c a lig e r d e fin ie rte in
s e in e r fo lg e n r e ic h e n „ P o e tik “ (1 5 6 1 ) d e n D ic h te r
a ls e i n e n , d e r d ie N a t u r n i c h t n a c h a h m t, „ g le ic h
w ie e i n S c h a u s p ie le r" , s o n d e rn d e r s ie w e ite r -
s c h a ff t, z u E n d e f ü h r t, „ w ie e in a n d e r e r G o tt“ ,
d a s is t, w ie e in P r o m e th e u s ; so je d o c h , d a ß a u s
d e m V o rh a n d e n e n , „ o h n e H in d e rn is s e “ d a s T y ­
p is c h - R e a le h c r a u s k o m m t. D as T y p is c h -R e a le
is t d ie „ s p e c ie s " ,a ls o d ie a n g e le g te e n te le c h e tis c h e
F o r m ; d a h e r g u t a v e r r o is tis c h : „ I n ip s is n a tu ra e
n o rm is a tq u e d im e n s io n ib u s u n iv e rs a p e r f e c tio
e s t“ (D e a r te p o e tic a , p . 2 8 5 ). W a s im Z u sam ­
m enhang m it S c a lig e r s P ro m e th e u s -K ü n s tle r
b e d e u te t: D as K u n s ts c h ö n e hat d ie in den

75
N orm en und D im e n s io n e n d er S to fE -N a r u r
a n g e z e ig t e V o lle n d u n g s c h ö p fe r is c h z u r G e s ta l­
tu n g zu b r in g e n . H ie r w ie erst r e c h t in d en
I m p lik a t io n e n d e s L e s s in g -S a tz e s lie g t a l s o d ie
ä s th e tis c h e N a c h r e i f e d e r A r i s t o t e l i s c h e n L i n k e n ,
s o ll h e i ß e n , ih r e r k u n s t fä h ig e n L ehre v o n d er
f o r m e n s c h w a n g e r e n M a te r ie . D a s z u g l e i c h , w a s
d a s e r s tr e b b a r T y p is c h e a n g e h t, in K o n s e q u e n z
d e s A r is t o t e lis c h e n S a tz e s , d ie D ic h t u n g se i e in
P h il o s o p h is c h e r e s a ls d ie G e s c h i c h t s s c h r e i b u n g ,
denn s ie z e ig e m ehr d a s A llg e m e in g ü ltig e (d ie

v o lle E in h e it d er g e s c h e h e n d e n S a c h e ), d i e G e ­

s c h ic h ts s c h r e ib u n g dagegen m ehr d as E in z e ln e

( v g l. Ü b e r d ie D ic h t k u n s t , P h ilo s . B i b i ., p . 1 4 ) .

W o m it d e r G o e th is c h e A r is to te lis m u s z u s a m m e n -

z u h a lte n is t (in „ D id e r o ts V ersu ch ü ber d ie

M a le r e i“ ) , w e n n er fo lg e n d e r m a ß e n N a t u r n i c h t

a b z u m a le n , son d ern im m a n e n t w e ite r z u m a le n

h e iß t: „ U n d s o g ib t d e r K ü n s tle r , d a n k b a r g e g e n

d ie N a t u r , d ie a u c h ih n h e r v o r b r a c h te , ih r e i n e

z w e ite N a tu r , a b er e in e g e fü h lte , e in e g e d a c h t e ,

e in e m e n s c h lic h v o lle n d e te z u r ü c k .“ A u ch a u s

d ie s e n E r in n e r u n g e n e r h e llt: D as A m t d er a u f

d ie F ü ß e g e s te llte n , u n a b g e s c h lo s s e n e n E n t e l e c h i e

is t n ic h t z u E n d e , a m w e n ig s te n , w a s ä s t h e t is c h e n

R e a lis m u s a n g e h t. W a h r e K u n s t is t e in e , i n d e m

s ie so w o h l das T y p is c h -B e d e u te n d e k e n n tlic h

m a c h t, w ie in d e m s ie d a s u n g e w o r d e n M ö g l i c h e

im b ew egt W ir k lic h e n a n fe u e r n d , e r m u tig e n d ,

a ls r e a l i s t i s c h e s I d e a l v o r a u s g e s t a l t e t . A u c h d a z u

7 6
b e d a rf der S to f f - F o r m - B e g r if f , w ie ih n A v i-
c e n n a in n a tu r a lis tis c h e E r in n e r u n g b r a c h te , w e i­
te re r lin k e r P h ilo s o p h ie : a ls der P h ilo s o p h ie
d ia le k tis c h - m a te r ia lis tis c h e r T e n d e n z u n d L a te n z
z u g le ic h . D e r S c h o ß d e r M a t e r i e i s t m i t d e m b i s ­
h e r w ir k lic h G e w o r d e n e n n o c h n ic h t e r s c h ö p f t;
d ie w ic h tig s te n D a s e in s f o r m e n ih r e r G e s c h ic h te
u n d N a tu r s te h e n n o c h in d e r L a te n z re a le r M ö g ­
lic h k e it. D ie s W ic h tig s te , h is to ris c h s ic h v e r­
m itte ln d , e r s c h e in t a ls r e a lis tis c h e s Id e a l u n d
eben a ls e in e s das der zum M ö g lic h e n o f fe n e n
W ir k lic h k e it, a ls o d e r u n b e e n d e te n M a te r ie im ­
m a n e n t is t. D a s D y n a m e i o n h a t ü b e r g e n u g P la tz
f ü r s re a lis tis c h e I d e a l; d e s s e n F o r m is t e r s t d ie se s
ganz, w as A v ic e n n a „ d ie fe u r ig e W a h r h e it d e r
M a te r ie “ g e n a n n t h a t.

77
Aristoteles

„ A u c h d a s L i c h t m a c h t d ie n u r a ls m ö g lic h v o r h a n ­
d e n e n F a r b e n z u w ir k lic h e n .“

U b e r d ie S e e le ( P h il o s . B i b i .),
S . 79

„ W i r u n te r s c h e id e n e rs te n s d e n S to ff , d e r a n u n d f ü r
s ic h n o c h k e in b e s tim m te s D ie s e s is t, z w e ite n s d ie
G e s ta lt u n d F o r m , a u f G ru n d d e r e r m a n n u n m e h r
e tw a s a ls d a s b e s ti m m te D ie s e s b e z e ic h n e t, u n d d r i t ­
te n s d a s a u s S to f f u n d F o r m z u s a m m e n g e s e tz te . D e r
S to f f is t d ie M ö g lic h k e it ( P o te n tia litä t), d ie F o rm
a b e r d ie W ir k lic h k e it ( A k tu a litä t) .“

E benda , S . 28

„ E s g ib t so v ie le A r te n d e r B e w e g u n g u n d V e r ä n d e ­
r u n g , a ls e s A r te n d e s S e ie n d e n g ib t. I n d e m s ic h a b e r
a lle s i n j e d e r G a t t u n g n a c h P o t e n t i a l i t ä t u n d A k tu a l i­
tä t t e il t , s o n e n n e ic h d ie A k tu a litä t d e s P o te n z ie lle n ,
in s o f e r n es e in s o lc h e s is t, B e w e g u n g ... N u n f in d e t
a b e r d a s B e w e g tw e r d e n s ta t t, s o la n g e d ie P o te n tia li­
tä t z u g le ic h W irk lic h k e it is t, n ic h t f rü h e r u n d n ic h t
s p ä t e r . A ls o i s t d i e B e w e g u n g n i c h t s a n d e r e s a ls d ie
W irk lic h k e it d e s p o te n z ie ll S e ie n d e n ,in s o f e r n cs b e ­
w e g lic h is t .“

M e ta p h y s ik I I (P h ilo s .B ib i.) ,
S .7 4

0 .1 1 1 7 8l
Avicenna

„ D ie p h ilo s o p h is c h e n W is s e n s c h a fte n z er fa llen in


th e o r e tisc h e und p r a k t is c h e . D ie theoretischen (sie
z e r fa lle n in M a th e m a tik , N a t u r w i s s e n s c h a f t und
M e t a p h y s i k ) v e r f o l g e n d a s Z i e l , d i e D e n k fä h ig k e it
d e r S e e l e d a d u r c h z u v e r v o l l k o m m n e n , d a ß s ie d e n

V e r sta n d a k t u e l l d e n k e n d m a c h e n . D i e s e s w ir d d a ­
d u r c h e r r e i c h t , d a ß d e r V e r s t a n d d i e b e g r i f f l i c h a u f­
f a s s e n d e u n d ü b e r d i e A u ß e n w e l t u r t e i l e n d e W is s e n ­
sc h a ft von den D in g e n e r la n g t, d ie n i c h t u n se r e

H a n d lu n g e n und V e r h ä l t n i s s e s i n d . D i e praktische

P h ilo s o p h ie ( E t h i k ) i s t d i e j e n i g e , d i e z u n ä c h s t d ie

V o lle n d u n g d er th e o r e t is c h e n D e n k fä h ig k e it er­

s t r e b t , in d e m d u r c h s ie e in b e g r ifflic h a u ffa ssen d es

u n d u r t e i l e n d e s W is s e n v o n D in g e n a u f tr it t, d ie u n ­

s e r e H a n d lu n g e n s e l b s t s i n d . D e r Z w e c k d ie s e s t h e o ­

r e t is c h e n W is s e n s i s t d e r , d a ß w ir in z w e it e r L in ie

v o n d ie s e r W is s e n s c h a f t d ie V o lle n d u n g d e r p ra k ­

t is c h e n F ä h ig k e it d u r c h g u t e C h a r a k t e r e ig e n s c h a f te n

e r l a n g e n ... D i e M e t a p h y s ik a b e r (d e r S c h lu ß te il d er

t h e o r e t is c h e n P h ilo s o p h ie ) is t d ie j e n ig e W is s e n s c h a ft,

w e lc h e d ie e r s t e n U r s a c h e n d e s u n te r N a tu r w is s e n ­

s c h a f t u n d M e t a p h y s i k f a l l e n d e n S e i n s ( a l s P ro b le m )

u n te r su c h t.

D ie s e W is s e n s c h a f t m u ß nun n o t w e n d ig e r w e is e in

v ie le T e ile z e r fa lle n . D e r e i n e u n t e r s u c h t d ie e r ste

U r s a c h e , v o n d e r je d es b e w ir k te S e in a b h ä n g t. E in

a n d erer, T e il u n te r su c h t d ie A k z id e n z ie n d e s S e in s

(F r ü h e r S p ä te r , P o te n z u n d A k tu s, d a s G a n ze u n d

82
d er T e il, d ie I n d iv i d u a li tä t, d a s V e r s c h i e d e n s e i n , d ie
G e g e n s ä tz e u n d m e h r ) , e i n d r i t t e r d i e e r s t e n P r i n ­
z ip ie n d e r p a r t i k u l ä r e n W i s s e n s c h a f t e n . D e n n d ie
e r s te n P r i n z i p i e n e i n e r j e d e n W i s s e n s c h a f t , d i e g e ­
r in g e r e n U m f a n g b e s i t z t , b i l d e n d i e Problem e f ü r d i e
W iss e n s c h a ft, d ie e i n e n w e it e r e n U m f a n g b e s i t z t . S o
s in d z u m B e i s p i e l d i e P r i n z i p i e n d e r M e d i z i n ( d e r
le b e n d e K ö r p e r u n d d i e G e s u n d h e i t ) P r o b le m e d e r
N a tu rw is s e n s c h a ft u n d ebenso d ie P r in z ip ie n der
P la n im e trie P r o b le m e d e r G e o m e trie . S o e r lä u te r t
d ie M e t a p h y s i k , a l s e i n e i h r a k z i d e n z i e l l e A u f g a b e ,
d ie e r s t e n P r i n z i p i e n d e r p a r t i k u l ä r e n W i s s e n s c h a f ­
t e n . . . D a h e r i s t e s a ls o k la r u n d e in le u c h te n d , w e lc h e r
G e g e n s t a n d d e n Z w e c k d i e s e r W i s s e n s c h a f t b i l d e t . 41

D ie M e ta p h y sik A vicen n a s,
übers, v . H o rten , 1 9 0 9 , S . 2f f .

„ Je d e s D in g , d a s n e u e n ts te h t, h a t v o r s e in e m W e r­
d e n e n tw e d e r in s ic h d ie (s to f flic h e ) M ö g lic h k e it z u
e x istie re n o d e r es is t u n m ö g lic h .“

E b en d a , S . 269

D a s s e lb e , w e ite r a u s g e f ü h r t, g e g e n d ie A n n a h m e , d a s
M ö g lic h e , w e il es n ic h t v e rw irk lic h t, sei s e lb e r
n ic h t:
„ D ie N a tu r d e s s e n , w as in d e r P o te n z e x is tie r t, b e ­
f i n d e t s i c h a u s s c h li e ß lic h i n d e r M a te r i e a ls s e in e m

8 3
S u b s tra t. D a h e r i s t d i e M a t e r i e s o b e s c h a ffe n , daß
m a n s a g e n k a n n , s i e b e s t e h e i n s i c h s e l b s t d e r P o ten z
n a c h u n d se i e x is tie re n d ."

Ebenda>S. 147

A l l e r d i n g s v e r w i r k l i c h t d a s s t o f f h a f t M ö g l i c h e n ic h t,
es is t k e in e U rs a c h e f ü r d ie E x is te n z d e r F o r m e n .
M a t e r i e l l e U r s a c h e i s t b l o ß e i n e f ü r d i e M ö g lic h k e it
d i e s e r E x i s t e n z , a b e r f r e i li c h a u c h e in e , d ie deren In­
h a lte d is p o n ie r t:
„ D i e M a t e r i e k a n n n i c h t d i e U r s a c h e f ü r d ie E x iste n z
d e r F o r m e n s e in . D ie s i s t a u s f o lg e n d e n G r ü n d e n e in ­
l e u c h t e n d : e r s t e n s d i e M a t e r i e i s t n u r i n d e m S in n
M a t e r i e , d a ß s i e d i e F ä h i g k e i t h a t , e t w a s i n s ic h a u f ­
zunehm en u n d f ü r e t w a s d i s p o n i e r t z u s e in . D a s ­
je n ig e a b e r , w a s d i s p o n i e r t is t, k a n n a ls s o lc h e s n ic h t
U r s a c h e s e in f ü r d i e E x i s t e n z d e s s e n , f ü r d a s es d is ­
p o n ie r t i s t ( d ie F o r m ) . W e n n e s U r s a c h e w ä re , so e r ­
g ä b e s ic h n o tw e n d i g , d a ß je n e s a n d e r e (d ie F o rm )
im m e r in ih m z u g e g e n s e in m ü ß te , a u c h o h n e v o r­
h e rig e D is p o s itio n . Z w e ite n s is t es u n m ö g lic h , d aß
d a s W e s e n e in e s D in g s i n a k tu e lle r W e is e U rsa c h e
f ü r e in a n d e re s D in g s e i, w ä h re n d es s e lb s t n o ch in
d e r P o te n z v e r h a r r t.“

E benda, S. 138

N ä h e re D a rle g u n g der m a te rie lle n U rs a c h e , d ie


d ie S to f f- P o te n z a ls d is p o n ie re n d e d a rs te llt. D ie
D is p o s itio n e n (A n la g e n ) v a riie re n d ie F o rm e n

84
u n m iß v e rs tä n d lic h auch ih r e m I n h a lt nach (h ie r
s p ric h tA v ic e n n a d u r c h a u s n ic h t a r is to te lic is s im e ) :
„ W a s d ie m a te r ie lle U r s a c h e ( c a u s a m a t e r i a l i s ) a n ­
g e h t, so is t e s d i e j e n ig e , i n d e r d ie P o t e n z f ü r d i e
E x is te n z e in e s D in g s b e s t e h t . W i r l e h r e n d e s h a l b :
e in D in g k a n n s ic h i n d i e s e m , e b e n g e n a n n t e n Zu­
s ta n d e i n B e z ie h u n g a u f e i n e W e s e n s f o r m b e f i n d e n i n
v e rs c h ie d e n e n A r te n u n d W e is e n . M a n c h m a l v e r h ä lt
s ic h d ie M a t e r ie so w ie d i e T a f e l z u r S c h r i f t ; s ie i s t
d a n n d is p o n ie r t f ü r d ie A u f n a h m e e in e s D in g e s , d a s
i h r w ie e i n A k z i d e n s z u k o m m t , o h n e d a ß s i c h d i e
M a te rie b e i d e r A u f n a h m e d ie s e s D in g e s v e r ä n d e r t
u n d o h n e d a ß s ie ir g e n d e tw a s e i n b ü ß t a u f G r u n d
d e s s e n , w as ih r v o n d e r U r s a c h e z u k o m m t. M a n c h ­
m a l v e r h ä lt s ic h d ie M a te r ie s o w ie d a s W a c h s z u m
B ild n is u n d d e r K n a b e z u m M a n n . S ie i s t d a n n d i s ­
p o n ie r t, d ie W e s e n s f o r m e in e s D in g e s i n s ic h a u f ­
zunehm en, d ie ih r w ie e in A k z id e n s z u k o m m t,
ohne daß s ie s ic h in ih r e n Z u s tä n d e n v e rä n d e rt,
es sei denn h ö c h s te n s d u rc h d ie B ew egung in
bezug auf den R a u m , d ie Q u a n titä t und an d ere
K a te g o r ie n .
M a n c h m a l v e r h ä lt s ic h d ie c a u s a m a te r ia lis w ie d a s
H o lz z u m R u h e b e tt. V o n ih m w e rd e n B e s ta n d te ile
d u r c h d ie S c h r e in e r a r b e it e n t f e r n t (so d a ß e s v o n
s e i n e r S u b s t a n z e tw a s v e r li e r t ) . M a n c h m a l v e r h ä l t s ie
s ic h w ie d a s , w a s v o m S c h w a r z e n z u m W e iß e n ü b e r ­
g e h t. D ie s e s w ird v e r ä n d e r t u n d v e r lie r t s e in e Q u a li­
t ä t , d ie e s f r ü h e r b e s a ß , o h n e d a ß je d o c h s e in e S u b ­
s t a n z v e r n i c h t e t w i r d . M a n c h m a l v e r h ä l t s ie s ic h w ie

85
d e r Sam e zu m T i e r . D e r S a m e m u ß s e in e W esens­
fo rm e n v o lls tä n d ig v e r l i e r e n , s o d a ß e r d is p o n ie rt
w ir d , d ie W e s e n s f o r m d e s T i e r e s i n s i c h a u fz u n e h ­
m e n . E b e n s o v e r h a l t e n s i c h d i e H e r l i n g e z u m W ein.
M a n c h m a l v e r h ä l t s i c h d i e c a u s a m a t e r i a l i s w ie die
e r s t e M a t e r i e z u r W e s e n s f o r m . S i e i s t d i s p o n i e r t , d ie ­
s e l b e i n s i c h a u f z u n e h m e n , u n d b e s t e h t a k tu e ll d u rc h
d ie s e lb e . E in a n d e re s M a l v e r h ä l t s i e s i c h w ie d ie
M y r o b a l a n e n z u m T e i g e , D e r T e i g e n t s t e h t n i c h t aus
d i e s e r F r u c h t a l l e i n , s o n d e r n a u s i h r z u g l e i c h i n V e r­
b i n d u n g m i t e i n e r a n d e r e n S p e i s e . V o r d e r M is c h u n g
i s t s i e n u r e i n T e i l v o n d e n v i e l e n T e i l e n d e s T e ig e s
u n d v e rh ä lt s ic h z u ih m w ie d ie P o te n z . M an ch m a l
v e r h ä l t s i c h d i e c a u s a m a t e r i a l i s w i e d a s H o l z u n d d ie
S te in e z u m G e b ä u d e . D ie s e A r t u n d W e is e is t d e r
e b e n g e n a n n te n v e r w a n d t; ;e d o c h e n t s t e h t in d e r
e b e n g e n a n n t e n A r t d e r T e i g a u s ( d e r M i s c h u n g m i t)
d e r g e n a n n te n F r u c h t , i n d e m d ie s e s ic h i n ih r e r S u b ­
s ta n z v e r ä n d e rt.
I n d e n e b e n a n g e g e b e n e n A rte n u n d W e i s e n fin d e n
w i r d i e D i n g e , d i e S u b s t r a t e s i n d f ü r d i e P o t e n z . S ie
s in d e n tw e d e r S u b s t r a t f ü r d ie s e lb e i n i h r e r I n d i­
v id u a lit ä t a lle in ( m i t A u s s c h lu ß a n d e r e r D in g e ) o d e r
in V e r b in d u n g m i t a n d e r e n . S in d s ie n u n in ih re r
I n d iv id u a litä t T r ä g e r d e r P o te n z , s o v e r h a l t e n s ic
s ic h e n tw e d e r so , d a ß sie , u m e in e W irk u n g h e rv o r­
z u b rin g e n , nur des a k tu e lle n H e rv o rg e h en s der
H a n d lu n g b e d ü rfe n . E in e s o lc h e U r s a c h e w ir d i n
v o r z ü g lic h e m S in n e S u b s tr a t g e n a n n t i m V e rh ä ltn is
z u d e m , w as in i h r v o r h a n d e n is t. S o lc h e W irk u n g e n

86
haben n o tw e n d ig e rw e is e i n s ic h s e l b s t e i n a k t u e l le s
B e s te h e n (e s s i n d a l s o S u b s t r a t e g e m e i n t , d i e s e l b s t
S u b s ta n z e n s i n d , d . h . n i c h t d a s a b s o l u t e r s t e S u b ­
s tr a t, d i e m a t e r i a p r i m a ) . W e n n j e d o c h d a s S u b s t r a t
i n s ic h k e i n e n s e l b s t ä n d i g e n B e s t a n d h a t , d a n n k a n n
es n i c h t d i s p o n i e r t s e i n z u r A u f n a h m e d e s f o r m e l l e n
P r in z i p s . E s m u ß v i e l m e h r z u e r s t i n s i c h s e l b s t a k ­
tu e ll b e s t e h e n . W e n n e s s i c h j e d o c h s o v e r h ä l t , d a ß e s
n u r d u r c h d a s fo rm e lle P r in z i p , d a s in d a s S u b s tr a t
e in tritt, z u m s e lb s tä n d ig e n B e s tä n d e g e la n g t, d a n n
w ar vor dem A u ftre te n dieses zw eiten , fo rm ellen P rin-
zipes in dem Substrate etw as anderes vorhanden , u nd
dieses verlieh ihm den B estand. E i n e a n d e r e M ö g l i c h ­
k e it i s t d ie , d a ß d a s z w e ite , d a s f o r m e l le P r i n z i p , d e m
S u b s tra te n ic h t d e n B e s ta n d v e r le ih t, s o n d e r n z u ih m
(w e n n es b e r e its in s e in e r f e r tig e n N a tu r b e s te h t) h i n ­
zu g efü g t w ir d , O d e r es k a n n s ic h so v e rh a lte n , d a ß
d ie H i n z u f ü g u n g d e s f o r m e l l e n P r i n z i p e s d a s j e n i g e
aus d e m S u b s tr a te e n t f e r n t, w as ih m v o rd e m d e n B e ­
s ta n d v e r l i e h ; d a n n v e r ä n d e r t e s s ic h i m e i g e n t li c h e n
S in n e d e s W o r te s . W i r h a t t e n je d o c h v o r a u s g e s e t z t ,
d a ß d a s S u b s tr a t s ic h n ic h t v e r ä n d e r e .
D ie s e A r t d e r m a t e r ie l le n U r s a c h e n b i l d e t a ls o e i n e
G r u p p e f ü r s ic h . S ie b e d a r f e n t w e d e r ( u m d ie W i r ­
k u n g h e rz u s te lle n ) d e r H in z u f ü g u n g e in e s D in g e s ,
o d e r s ie is t e in e B e w e g u n g , se i es e in e r ä u m lic h e o d e r
e in e a u f d ie Q u a l i tä t , Q u a n t i t ä t , L a g e u n d S u b s ta n z
s ic h e r s tr e c k e n d e , o d e r , d r i t t e n s , d a s S u b s tr a t is t U r ­
sache d a fü r, d a ß aus ih m e in n ic h t s u b s ta n z ie lle s
D in g , s e i es n u n e in q u a n tita tiv e s , q u a lita tiv e s o d e r

87
ä h n l i c h e s e n t f e r n t w e r d e . D i e M a t e r i a l u r s a c h e , die
i n V e r b i n d u n g s t e h t m i t a n d e r e n D i n g e n , g e h t n o t­
w e n d ig e rw e is e e in e V e r b i n d u n g m i t a n d e re n Sub­
s t a n z e n u n d e i n e Z u s a m m e n s e t z u n g e i n . E s e n ts te h t
d a n n e n t w e d e r n u r e i n e Z u s a m m e n s e t z u n g nach der
A r t e i n e r J u x t a p o s i t i o n , o d e r e s t r i t t n e b e n d iesem
noch e in e V e rä n d e ru n g in der Q u a l i t ä t e in . A lles
a b e r , w a s s i c h v e r ä n d e r t , g e l a n g t d u r c h e i n e e in zig e
o d e r d u r c h m e h r e r e V e r ä n d e r u n g e n z u d e m le tz te n
E n d p u n k te (u n d daher hat je d e r V e rä n d e ru n g s­
p r o z e ß e in e o d e r m e h r e r e P h a s e n ) .“

Ebenda, S. 407ff.

B e k rä ftig u n g der m a te rie lle n E in w irk u n g a u f d ie


W e s e n s f o r m ; d i e M a t e r i e i s t n ic h t n u r q u a n tifiz ie re n d ,
s o n d e rn a u c h q u a lita tiv d e te rm in ie re n d :
„ D i e E i n w i r k u n g b e s t e h t d a r i n , d a ß d i e M a t e r i e d ie
W e s e n s fo rm in d iv id u a lis ie rt und d e te r m in ie r t...
J e d e s e i n z e l n e v o n d i e s e n b e i d e n P r i n z i p i e n , d ie M a ­
te rie u n d d ie W e s e n s fo rm , is t U rsa c h e f ü r d as an ­
d e re in ir g e n d e in e r b e s tim m te n H in s ic h t u n d bezü g ­
lic h e in e r b e s tim m te n R e a litä t, n ic h t in e in e r u n d
d e r s e l b e n H i n s i c h t . W e n n d ie s e s n i c h t d e r F a l l w ä re ,
dann b e sä ß e d ie m a te r ie lle W e s e n s f o r m k e in e n o t­
w e n d ig e A b h ä n g ig k e it v o n d e r M a te r ie in ir g e n d ­
w e lc h e r W e ise . I n d ie s e m S in n haben w ir sch o n
f r ü h e r a u s e in a n d e r g e s e tz t, d a ß z u r E x i s te n z d e r M a ­
te r i e n i c h t d ie W e s e n s fo rm a lle in g e n ü g e . D ie W e ­
s e n s fo r m v e r h ä lt s ic h v ie lm e h r n u r w ie e in T e il d e r

88
U rs a c h e . W e n n d i e s e s s i c h aber so v e r h ä lt, d a n n
k a n n d ie W e s e n s f o r m n i c h t i n j e d e r B e z i e h u n g a l s
U rs a c h e f ü r d i e ( g e s t a l t e t e , i n d i v i d u i e r t e , d e t e r m i ­
n ie rte ) M a t e r i e b e z e i c h n e t w e r d e n , i n d e m s ie z u ­
g le ic h i n s i c h s e l b s t u n a b h ä n g i g v o n d e r M a t e r i e u n d
s e lb s tä n d ig w ä r e . “

Ebenda, S. 600

D e r K ö r p e r i s t d i e m a te r ie ll- f o r m a le E i n h e i t a ls p h y ­
s ik a l is c h e r G e g e n s t a n d . A b e r A v i c e n n a w i l l diesen
Körper nickt nur als dreidimensionalen bestim m t wissen.
D er K ö r p e r i s t i n s e in e n D im e n s io n e n m in d e s te n s
v e rw a n d e lb a r, d ie s e a ls o s in d i h m n ic h t w e s e n tlic h .
E b e n s o w e n ig i s t d e m K ö r p e r e i n O b e n o d e r U n t e n
w e s e n tlic h , e t w a d a ß e r s i c h u n t e r d e m H i m m e l b e ­
fin d e u n d s o e n d l i c h s e i n m ü s s e . W e s e n t l i c h i s t d e m
K ö rp e r e in z ig , je n s e its d ie s e s R e la tiv e n , d a ß e r i n
F o rm d e r K o n ti n u i tä t b e s te h e , d ie d ie E ig e n s c h a f t
h a t, b e s tim m te D im e n s io n e n a u c h a b z u le g e n . D a m i t
w ir d d i e K ö r p e r h a f t i g k e i t i m p l i c i t e nicht notw endig
als res extensa oder nur q u a n tita tiv gedacht. S i e l i e g t
v ie lm e h r t i e f e r a ls d i e je w e ilig e E x t e n s i o n u n d s u b s i -
s tie r t a u c h in n i c h t q u a n t ita tiv e n E r s c h e i n u n g e n :
„ E s g e h ö r t n i c h t z u d e n n o tw e n d ig e n B e d in g u n g e n
des K ö rp e rs , d a ß er D im e n sio n e n b e s itz e . . . E b e n s o ­
w e n ig i s t d a s e s s e c o r p u s n o t w e n d ig a b h ä n g i g v o n
d e r B e s tim m u n g , d a ß e r u n te r d e m H im m e l s e in e n
n a tü rlic h e n O r t h a b e , so d a ß ih m d ie v e r s c h ie d e n e n

89
S e ite n z u e i g e n s i n d a u f G r u n d d e r v e rs c h ie d e n e n
R ic h tu n g e n d e s W e lta lls . . . A l l e D im e n s i o n e n , d ie
im K ö rp e r in n e rh a lb s e in e r G r e n z e n angenom m en
w e r d e n , a u c h s e i n e G e s t a l t e n u n d L a g e n , s in d fo lg ­
lic h D in g e , d ie n ic h t in te g r a le B e s t a n d t e i l e se in e s
W e s e n s b e g r i f f s a u s m a c h e n . . . D a s e i g e n t l i c h e W e­
s e n d e r K ö r p e r lic h k e it is t d ie W e se n sfo rm d er K on­
t i n u i t ä t , d i e a u f n a h m e f ä h i g i s t f ü r d i e A r t u n d W e ise
d e r d re i D im e n s io n e n .“ - E s is t e in S tü c k frü h e r
L e i b n i z i n d i e s e n A u s f ü h r u n g e n , n i c h t n u r e in e b e ­
d e u t e n d e E r w e i t e r u n g d e s B e g riffs e s s e c o rp u s ü b e r
d a s Q u a n tita tiv e h in a u s .

Ebenda, S . 98ß .

A verroes

D e r V e r s ta n d k a n n n u r d ie a llg e m e in e n F o r m e n e r ­
f a s s e n , d ie s e a b e r k o m m e n n u r i n s t o f f l i c h e r V ie l­
h e i t v o r . W e n n d a h e r d e r V e r s ta n d t r o t z d e m d ie s e
s to ff lic h e V ie lh e it b e g r e if t, w e n n s ie n i c h t u n a u s -
s a g b a r is t, d a n n können d ie b e g re ifb a re n F o rm e n
n i c h t a u ß e r h a l b d e r s t o f f l i c h e n V i e l h e i t l i e g e n . D ie s e
V i e l h e i t w ä r e s o n s t u n b e g r e i f l i c h , e s g ä b e n u r e in
W is s e n u m d ie a llg e m e in e n F o r m e n , n i c h t u m d ie
w e ltlic h e n D in g e . D a ß e s a b e r e in s o lc h e s W iss e n
g ib t, d a s e b e n k o m m t d a v o n , d a ß d ie F o r m e n im
S to f f s e lb s t le b e n ; s o k a n n s ie d e r V e r s ta n d a ls v ie le
e rfa s se n :

9 0
„ D ie A n n a h m e v o n S e e l e n o h n e S t o f f , d i e t r o t z d e m
viele s e i n s o l l e n , i s t e t w a s U n e r h ö r te s . D e n n d ie
U rsa c h e d e r V i e l h e i t i s t d i e M a te rie , w ä h re n d d ie
U rsa c h e d e s Ü b e r e i n s t i m m e n s i n d e r V ie lh e it d ie
F o rm b i l d e t . D a ß a l s o n u m e r i s c h v i e l e D i n g e , d i e
in d e r F o r m ü b e re in s tim m e n , o h n e M a te rie e x i­
s tie re n s o l l e n , i s t u n m ö g l i c h . “

Die W iderlegung des G a za li


( D estructio destructionis ) ,
übers, v . H o rten , 1 9 1 3 , 5 . 30

D er S to f f is t a u c h a ls M ö g lic h e s n i c h t u n a u s s a g b a r
oder s p u k h a f t, e r e x is t ie r t v ie lm e h r w ir k lic h . U n d
sein r e a l e s S u b s tr a t: d ie M a te rie kann s e lb e r in
irg e n d e in e m V o r h e r n i c h t n i c h t - g e w e s e n , a ls o e r s t
g esc h a ffe n w o r d e n s e in . D a s M ö g lic h e , A u f n a h m e ­
f ä h ig e , P o t e n z i e l l e , M a t e r i e l l e i s t u n g e s c h a f f e n , d e n n
w ä re e s g e s c h a f f e n , d a n n h ä t t e d e r A k t u s s e i n e s E r -
sc h a ffe n s e tw a s a u s e i n e m n ic h t e in m a l M ö g lic h e n
g e sc h a ffe n ; w as u n m ö g lic h is t. F o lg lic h b ra u c h t
d ie M a t e r i e k e i n e n S c h ö p f e r , u m z u s e i n , s i e i s t v i e l ­
m e h r m its a m t d e r B e w e g u n g in i h r e w ig . D ie M a te r ie
is t d e r a r t e in e r S c h ö p fu n g w eder f ä h ig noch be­
d ü rftig ; e in v o rw e ltlic h e r e w ig e r A lla h is t neben
d er w e ltlic h -e w ig e n M a te r ie n ic h t b e w e is b a r :
„ D ie M ö g lic h k e it e r f o r d e r t e in r e a le s D in g , d e m s ic
in h ä r ie r t . . . B e i d e r M ö g lic h k e it i n d e r U r s a c h e
is t d a h e r d ie M ö g lic h k e it d e s a u f n e h m e n d e n P r in ­
z ip s e i n e n o tw e n d i g e B e d i n g u n g ; d e n n d i e U r s a c h e ,

.9 1
d i e n i c h t w i r k e n k a n n , i s t u n m ö g l i c h . . . E s m uß
a l s o ( i n d e r e w i g e n M a t e r i e ) e i n e e w ig e B ew egung
v o rh a n d e n s e in , d ie j e n e A u f e i n a n d e r f o l g e in der
M a t e r i e b e w i r k t v o n e n t s t e h e n d e n u n d v erg e h e n d e n
D i n g e n i n a n f a n g l o s e r K e t t e ; d e n n u n t e r E n ts te h e n
v e r s te h t m a n d ie V erän d eru n g u n d U m g e s ta ltu n g
e in e s D in g e s a u s e i n e r F o t e n t i a l i t ä t z u m A k te . . .
F o l g l i c h e r g i b t s i c h , d a ß i m W e r d e p r o z e ß e in e (an­
f a n g lo s e ) P o te n tia litä t v o rh an d en is t a ls S u b s tra t
d e r k o n t r ä r e n , s i c h a n i h m a b w e c h s e l n d e n W esens­
fo rm e n /4

E b e n d a , S . K>4f.

D a s H i n ü b e r f ü h r e n d e s M ö g l i c h e n z u m W ir k l ic h e n
n u n b e g i n n t s c h o n i m M ö g l i c h e n , i n d e m e s a ls s o l­
c h e s e in S c h o ß is t. I n d e r M a te r ie r e if e n d ie F o rm e n
s e lb e r a ls d is p o s itio n e lle , la te n te h e r a n , u n d d e r A k-
t u s ( z u h ö c h s t a l s W e l t b e w e g e r g e d a c h t ) k a n n k e in e
e in z ig e n e u e h e r v o r b r in g e n , e r v e r w irk lic h t n u r . Im
g r o ß e n K o m m e n ta r z u r A r is to te lis c h e n M e ta p h y s ik
m acht d a s A v e rro e s (b e i E rlä u te ru n g von A r is t.
M e ta p h . X II, 3 ) g a n z d e u tlic h : D ie B ew egungs­
u r s a c h e g ib t d e n D in g e n n ic h t ih r e F o r m e n , so n d e rn
is t der bloße E ductor der F orm en, s i e b r i n g t d i e i n
d e r M a te r ie lie g e n d e n F o rm e n n u r a n s L i c h t (n o n
d a t , s e d e x tr a h it) . F o lg lic h s in d a u c h d ie S e e le n u n d
G e d a n k e n a ls F o r m e n i n d e r M a t e r ie s c h o n a n g e le g t,
u n d z w a r d e r a r t , d a ß d ie s e s w ie a lle s A n g e le g ts e in

92
eine n i c h t b l o ß p a s s i v e , s o n d e r n s u o g e n e r e a k t i v e
M ö g lic h k e it e i n s c h l i e ß t . D i e d a m i t b e d e u t e t e F ä h i g ­
k e it: F o r m e n b i s z u i h r e r A k t u a l i s i e r u n g , d a s h e i ß t
b is z u m S p r u n g d e s W i r k l i c h w e r d e n s a u s z u r e i f e n ,
e r w e it e r t d e n B e g riff d e s M ö g lic h e n sehr s ta rk ;
M ö g lic h k e it a ls a k t i v e D i s p o s i t i o n w i r d I n k u b a t i o n ,
w ird S c h o ß e i n e r n a tu ra n a t u r a n s . Z u g le ic h z ie h t
d ie se E r w e i t e r u n g n i c h t n u r d i e F o r m e n , s o n d e r n
g e ra d e a u c h d a s A k tu a lis ie re n d e an ih n e n in d ie
A r is to te lis c h e d y n a m i s h e r e i n . I m G rie c h is c h e n h a t
d y n a m is b e re its den p a s s iv - a k tiv e n D o p p e ls in n :
P o s s ib ilitä t u n d P o te n z , M ö g l i c h k e i t u n d V e r m ö g e n
z u s e in . S o s c h a r f e L o g i k e r w i e A v i c e n n a u n d A v e r ­
ro e s h a b e n d i e s e n D o p p e l s i n n ( e r w i e d e r h o l t s i c h i m
A ra b is c h e n ) o h n e h i n b e m e r k t , s ie s in d ih m n ic h t
e tw a , a ls e i n e r b lo ß s p r a c h lic h e n M e h r d e u tig k e it,
z u m O p fe r g e f a lle n . (A v e rro e s u n te r s c h e id e t - in d e r
„ W id e r le g u n g d e s G a z a ü “ , S . 1 0 4 - a u s d r ü c k li c h d ie
b e id e n d y n a m is - B e d e u tu n g e n : „ D ie s e s D in g kann
v o llb ra c h t w e r d e n “ und: „ Z a id kann d ie s e s v o ll­
b r i n g e n “ .) W e i t e n t f e r n t v o n u n d u r c h s c h a u t e r Ä q u i -
v o k a tio n h a t a ls o A v e r r o e s , i n A n s e h u n g d e r d y n a m i s -
M a te r ie , d e n p a s s iv - a k tiv e n D o p p e ls in n d u rc h a u s
a k z e p tie rt. E b e n d ie s p e z ifis c h e „ P o te n z “ z u r F o r m ­
r e if u n g s c h w in g t n u n in d e r g e n e re lle n „ P o te n tia -
litä t“ d e r M a te rie u n d m a c h t d ie d y n a m is - M a te r ie
zum S c h w a n g e r s c h a f ts o r t d e r u n g e w o r d e n e n , d o c h
h e r a n r e if e n d e n F o rm g e s ta lte n .
N ic h t m in d e r g e s c h ie h t d a d u r c h e in e W e ite r f ü h ru n g
des a n d e re n A ris to te lis c h e n M a te r ie b e g r if fs , des

93
N a c h - A lö g lic h k e it- S e in s f k a ta t o d y n a to n ) n e b e n
dem I n - M ö g l i c h k e i t - S e i n ( d y n a m e i o n ). D a s h e iß tj
d u rc h d ie genau b e d in g e n d e P o te n z w ird d ie
A b f o lg e d e s F r ü h e r o d e r S p ä te r d e r E rs c h e in u n g e n b e­
s t i m m t . D e r g e s t a l t , d a ß A p e rro e s e in e „ n ä h e re o d er
fe rn e re P o te n z “ in den m a t e r i e l l e n D is p o s i tio n e n
u n te rs c h e id e t, d e m F r ü h e r o d e r S p ä te r d e r m ö g ­
lic h e n A k tu a lis ie ru n g e n t s p r e c h e n d . S o s in d a ls o
k e i n e s w e g s a l l e D i n g e j e d e r z e i t m ö g l i c h , es g i b t v ie l­
m ehr - v o m A u s g a n g s p u n k t d e r „ n ä h e re n od er fe r­
n e re n P o te n z “ h e r - e in e n F a h r p la n d e r E n tw ic k ­
lu n g , u n d das ohne Ü b e r s p r i n g u n g d e r S ta tio n e n .
D e r a r t s in d a u c h d ie Abfolge-Reihen d e r F o r m i n h a l t e ,
n i c h t n u r d i e s e I n h a l t e s e lb e r , i n d e r P o te n tia litä t-
P o te n z d e r M a te r ie d is p o n ie r t. D a s is t e in G e d a n k e ,
d e r s ic h b e i A r i s t o t e l e s l ä n g s t n i c h t i n d ie s e r D e u t-
i i c h k e i t f i n d e t ; e r e n t h ä l t s c h l i e ß h 'c h n i c h t s G e r i n g e r e s
a ls d ie E r k e n n tn is e i n e r a n je d e m P u n k tn o tw e n d ig e n ,
d u r c h d ie R e ife d e r B e d i n g u n g e n b e s t i m m t e n F o r t ­
s c h r it ts - V e r m itt lu n g . M i t b e s o n d e re r B e to n u n g d e s
h is to r is c h e n F r ü h e r u n d S p ä te r d e r F o rm a k tu a lis ie ­
r u n g f u h r t s o A v e r r o e s , im k u rz e n K o m m e n ta r z u r
M e ta p h y sik d e s A ris to te le s , a u s :
„ D a k la r g e w o r d e n is t, w as P o te n tia litä t u n d A k tu ­
a litä t b e d e u te n , s o w e r d e n w ir n u n d a r s te lle n , w a n n
e in je d e s e in z e ln e d e r in d iv id u e lle n D in g e in d e r
P o te n z e x is tie rt u n d w a n n n i c h t ; d e n n n ic h t e tw a
je d e s b e lie b ig e D in g i s t in d e r P o te n z je d e s b e lie b ig e
D in g (s o d a ß a u s a lle m a lle s e n t s t e h e n k ö n n te ) . E s
is t o ffe n b a r, d a ß d ie F ä h ig k e ite n (d ie P o te n z e n ) te ils

94
\

n ä h e re , te ils e n t f e r n t e r e s i n d . D a , s i c h d i e s e s n u n s o
v e rh ä lt, s o s i n d a u c h d i e S u b s t r a t e u n d F ä h i g k e i t e n
te ils n ä h e r e , t e i l s f e r n e r e . D i e e n t f e r n t e P o t e n z g e h t
n ic h t z u r A k t u a l i t ä t ü b e r , w e n n n ic h t v o rh e r d a s
le tz te S u b s t r a t ( d a s h e i ß t i n s e i n e r a m m e i s t e n l e t z t ­
h in d i s p o n i e r t e n F o r m ) w i r k l i c h g e w o r d e n i s t . W e n n
m an a u s d ie s e m G r u n d e s a g t: e in D in g e x is ti e r t d e r
P o te n z n a c h i n e i n e m a n d e r e n , w ä h r e n d j e n e P o t e n z
e in e e n t f e r n t e r e i s t , s o s a g t m a n d i e s e s n u r i n ü b e r ­
tra g e n e m S in n e . . . D ie P o t e n z e n t w i c k e l t s i c h n i c h t
in d i e s e m b e s tim m te n S u b s tr a te (z u r A k tu a litä t)
in i r g e n d e i n e m b e l i e b i g e n Z u s t a n d . E s i s t v i e l m e h r
e rfo rd e rlic h , d a ß s ie i n d e m j e n i g e n Z u s t a n d e x i s t i e r e ,
in d e m es m ö g li c h i s t , d a ß s ie a u s i h m z u r A k t u a l i t ä t
ü b erg e h e . D e r S a m e is t n u r d e r P o te n z n a c h e in
M en sch , w e n n e r i n d ie G e b ä r m u t te r f ä ll t u n d e r
so d ie n ä h e r e M ö g l i c h k e i t n i c h t v e r l i e r t , e i n M e n s c h
w e rd e n z u k ö n n e n . A lle s e r f o r d e r t d a h e r a u ß e r d e m
e rs te n , f e r n e r e n M ö g lic h s e in d a s n ä c h s te ( z u r V e r ­
w ir k lic h u n g v o ll v e r m i t t e l t e ) a ls d i e b e i d e n p o t e n ­
z ie lle n S u b s t r a t e . W e n n d ie s e b e i d e n P o t e n z e n v o r ­
lie g e n , u n d w e n n z u g le ic h d ie W irk u rs a c h e n u n d
d as E n tfe rn e n d e r H in d e rn is s e g ü n s tig Z u sa m m e n ­
tre ffe n , g e h t d a s D in g n o tw e n d ig e r w e is e zur A k­
tu a litä t ü b e r .“ (V e rg le ic h e H e g e l, „ W i s s e n s c h a f t d e r
L o g ik “ I I , P h il o s . B ib i., 1 9 2 3 , S . 9 7 : „ W e n n a lle
B e d in g u n g e n e in e r S a c h e v o r h a n d e n s in d , so t r i t t
s ie i n d i e E x i s t e n z . “ )

D ie M e ta p h y sik des Averroes,


übers, v . H orten , 1912, S . I 0 2 f .

95
A verroes b e n u tz te w e i t e r d i e s c h o n b e i A r is to te le s

vorhandene D o p p e lb e s tim m u n g , daß d er B e g r iff

M a t e r ie auch e in G e f o r m t e s b e d e u t e n k a n n , w en n

d ie s e s G e fo r m te w ie d e r a ls M ö g l i c h k e i t z u e in e m

h ö h e r G e f o r m t e n d i e n t . F o l g l i c h k a n n e t w a s i n ein er

B e z ie h u n g F orm s e in ( e t w a B a u h o lz im V e r h ä ltn is

z u m B a u e n ) , i n a n d e r e r B e z i e h u n g a b e r M a t e r ie (das

g le ic h e B a u h o lz im V e r h ä ltn is z u m H a u s ). A verroes

is t fa s t e if r ig , M a t e r ie und F orm d e r a r t ih r e G e ­

s i c h t e r t a u s c h e n z u l a s s e n ; a u f a l l e F ä l l e r e i c h t e in e

M a te r ie , d ie je d e F orm s ic h a ls B a u h o l z f ü r e in e

neue F orm e in v e r le ib t , b is in d e n o b e r ste n S to c k

d e s W e ltg e b ä u d e s h in a u f:

„ M a te rie w ird v e r s c h i e d e n a r t i g a u s g e s a g t, z u m B e i­

s p ie l v o n d e r e r s te n M a te r ie , d ie o h n e F o rm b e s tim ­

m u n g is t, d a n n v o n d e m , w as sc h o n F o rm h a t , w ie

den v ie r E le m e n te n , d ie d ie M a te rie f ü r d ie z u ­

s a m m e n g e s e tz te n K ö rp e r s in d ... Ih re E ig e n a rt

is t, d a ß ih re F o rm b e im H e ra n tre te n e in e r a n d e re n

F o rm n i c h t g ä n z l i c h v e r g e h t , s o n d e r n d a ß d ie F o r m
der M a te rie in e in e r A rt M itte le x is te n z b e s te h e n

b le ib t. O d e r d ie e r s te F o r m b le ib t b e im H e r a n tr e te n
d e r z w e ite n F o r m b e s te h e n , w ie b e i d e r D is p o s itio n ,
d ie i n g e w is s e n g le ic h te ilig e n (o rg a n is c h e n ) K ö r p e r n

b e s t e h t , u m d ie S e e le a u f z u n e h m e n . D ie s e A r t M a ­
te rie k e n n z e ic h n e t m a n s p e z ie ll d u r c h d en N am en
S u b s tr a t.“
A n d er e V erdeutschung des k u r z e n K o m ­
m entars: D ie E p ito m e d er M e ta p h y sik des
A ve rro es, übers, v . v a n denB ergh, 1924, S . 2 5

96
Aviceiron

Auch v o n a n d erer S e i t e a l s d e r d e s g e h a l t v o l l M ö g ­

lichen w u r d e d e r B e g r i f f d e s S t o f f s e r h ö h t . A v i c e -

b ron leh rte e in e „ a l l g e m e i n e M a t e r i e “ , d i e d i e k ö r p e r ­

liche, aber a u c h e i n e g e i s t i g e u m f a ß t . A v ic e b r o n ,

der D en k er d ie s e r „ u n i v e r s a l e n M a t e r i e “ , g i n g n i c h t

hauptsächlich v o n A r i s t o t e l e s a u s . E r s t e h t b e d e u t e n d

mehr in n e u p la t o n is c h e n N a c h w i r k u n g e n , i n s o l c h e n ,

die n ic h t n u r d e n A r is t o t e le s u m h ü lle n , w ie zu­

w eilen b e i A v ic e n n a u n d A v e r r o e s , s o n d e r n i n u n ­

m ittelbaren. S o s c h r e i b t s i c h A v ic e b r o n s h ö c h ste

M aterie in n e r h a lb d er u n iv e r s a le n : d ie „ m a te r ia

spiritualis“ , g e r a d e w e g s v o n P l o t i n h e r , n ä m l i c h v o n

dessen „ h y le n o e t i k e “ , g e i s t i g e r od er in t e llig ib le r

M aterie ( E n n e a d e n I I , 4 , t - 5 ) , h o c h d r o b e n b e im

U r-E in en . I n P l o t i n s E m a n a t i o n s s y s t e m vom U r-
E inen b is h e r a b i n d i e F i n s t e r n i s d e s g e m e i n e n S t o f f s
fand e b e n d a s S t o f f p r i n z i p , d a s s o n s t b e i i h m ver­
teu felte, e in e ü b e r r a s c h e n d e N o b i l i t i e r u n g . E s f a n d
sie ,in d e m d e r S t o f f m i t d e m Z w e i t h ö c h s t e n i n P l o t i n s
W eit, m it d e m N u s o d e r W e l t g e i s t v e r b u n d e n w u r d e
und s o ,in d e r h i m m l i s c h e n S p h ä r e ,d e m H ö c h s t e n , U r -
E in en z u F ü ß e n l a g . U n d z w a r m i t l a u t e r p o s i t i v e m
U m s c h la g s e in e r a b s o l u t s c h l e c h t e n B e z e i c h n u n g i n
der u n t e r s t e n W e l t : l e e r e r , d u n k l e r A b g r u n d z u s e i n .
G era d e d ie s L e e r e , a b e r a u c h E i g e n s c h a f t s lo s e , U n ­
p e r s ö n lic h e k o n n t e d e m e r h a b e n s t L e e r e n , E ig e n ­
s c h a f t s l o s e n , U n p e r s ö n l i c h e n d e s U r - E i n e n a ls F o l i e
d ie n e n . P lo tin s N us oder H im m e ls g e is t is t a ls o

7.1117 97
m i t d i e s e r M a t e r i e v e r s e h e n , i n d e m d ie s e r K u s die
p a s s iv e d y n a m i s f ü r d i e a k tiv e d e s U r-E in e n d a r­
s t e l l t . Z w e i f e l l o s b l e i b t e s d a u e r n d m e r k w ü r d ig , w ie
b e i P l o t i n d i e s t ä r k s t e s p i r i t u a l i s t i s c h e M e ta p h y s ik ,
m it d e r s in n li c h e n M a te r ie im v e r m a le d e i te n A b ­
g r u n d , e i n e g l e i c h f a l l s M a t e r i e g e n a n n t e S u b s ta n z im
g e i s t i g e n Ä t h e r , j a a l s d i e s e n , w i e d e r e r s c h e i n e n lie ß .
U n d A v ic e b ro n s B e g r iff „m ateria spiritualis “ k o m m t
e b e n v o n d i e s e r „ h y l e n o e t i k e “ , a u c h „ t h e ia h y le “
h e r, von P lo tin s g e i s t i g , s o g a r g ö tt lic h g e n a n n te r
M a te rie .
N ic h t a b e r k o m m t A v ic e b r o n s u m fa s s e n d e re r B e­
g r iff : d ie „ m a teria universalis“ v o m N e u p l a t o n i s m u s
h e r. U nd e b e n s o w e n ig d ie , i n s e in e m W erk „ F o n s
v ita e “ , m a n n ig fa c h a u ftre te n d e n S to ff-F o rm -B e -
g r if fe A r is to te lis c h e r P r ä g u n g . (W ie d e n n d ie c h ris t­
l i c h e n S c h o la s ti k e r , v o r a b A l b e r tu s M a g n u s , d ie s e s
W e rk h a u p ts ä c h lic h u n te r d e m T ite l „ D e m a te ria
e t f o r m a “ a u f f ü h r te n ). A lso m ü n d e t A v i c e b r o n d o c h
i n d ie A r is to te lis c h e L in k e , n i c h t z u le tz t s e in e r W ir ­
kung nach. U n d i n H in s ic h t d e r „ m a te r ia u n iv e r ­
s a li s “ , w ie s ie d i e k ö r p e r l i c h e und d ie in te llig ib le
M a te r i e u m f a ß t , w ie s ie s c h li e ß li c h d a s S u b s t r a t d e s
e in h e itlic h e n W e ltz u s a m m e n h a n g s b il d e t,z e ig t A v ic e ­
b r o n v ie l m e h r s a c h lic h e V e r b in d u n g m i t d e m P e r i-
p a te tik e r S tr a to n , v o r a lle m a u c h m i t d e r S to a , d ie
v o n S tr a to n ja b e e in f lu ß t w a r, a ls m it d e m N eu­
p la to n is m u s . D a s tr o t z d e s E m a n a tio n s s y s te m s , d a s
s ic h b e s o n d e r s a u s g e p r ä g t b e i A v ic e b r o n A n d e r, u n d
s e lb s t tro tz der a u ß e ro rd e n tlic h e n , der g ä n z lic h
m a teriefreien T r a n s z e n d e n z v o n „ G o t t e s W i l l e n “ , d i e

sich in A v ic e b r o n s L e h r e e b e n f a l l s f i n d e t . U n t e r h a l b

dieses W il le n s , i n d e r v o r h a n d e n e n W e l t , i s t d i e M a ­

terie A v ic e b r o n s m i t d e m W e s e n d e r D i n g e n a h e z u

id e n tis c h . S ie i s t h i e r j e n e s S e in , d a s u n m itt e lb a r

aus d e r S e t z u n g d u r c h g ö t t l i c h e n W i l l e n r e a l i t e r e n t ­

steh t; d e r g e s t a lt & t M a t e r i e d e r A u s g a n g s p u n k t w i e

W e s e n s g r u n d a ll e r e n d l i c h e n S u b s t a n z e n . D a s s i n d

d ie H a u p t t h e s e n d e r „ F o n s v i t a e “ , s i e k o n n t e n n i c h t

u m h in , D e u s s i v e n a t u r a v o r z u b e r e i t e n :

„ D a in d e r k ö r p e r lic h e n W e lt s o w o h l a lle S to ff e w ie

a lle i h r e F o r m e n e i n g e m e i n s a m e s W e s e n h a b e n , s o

g ib t e s e i n e e i n h e i t l i c h e M a te rie und e in h e itlic h e

F o rm . D a a u c h i n der s e e lis c h -g e is tig e n W e lt so ­

w o h l a lle S to f f e w i e a l le F o r m e n e i n g e m e i n s a m e s

W esen h a b e n , so g i b t e s a u c h h i e r e in e e in h e itlic h e

M a te rie und e in e e in h e itlic h e F o rm “ (v g l. Fons

v it a e , l a t e i n i s c h h e ra u sg e g . v. C le m e n s B äu m k er,

M ü n ch en 1892, p . 2 26 ). „ D a z u d e m d ie a llg e m e in e

k ö rp e rlic h e u n d d i e a llg e m e in e g e i s t ig e F o r m eben­


f a lls i n e i n e m g e m e i n s a m e n W e s e n Z u s a m m e n t r e f f e n ,

r e s u ltie rt h ie r a u s e in e a b s o lu t a llg e m e in e M a te r ie
u n d e in e a b s o lu t a llg e m e in e F o r m - e t f ie n t a m b a e
m a te ria e u n a m a te r ia , e t f ie n t u t r a e q u e f o r m a e u n a
fo rm a“ (e b e n d a , p . 2 2 7 ). „ D ie a llg e m e in e M a te rie
u n d d ie a llg e m e in e F o r m s in d d ie K o n s titu e n tie n
d e s W e ltg e is te s - s c ilic e t q u a s u b s t a n ti a in te llig e n tia e
e s t c o m p o s ita e x e is “ ( e b e n d a , p . 2 5 8 , 3 2 2 ). „ D ie
M a te rie u n d d ie F o r m d e s W e ltg e is te s s in d d e r A u s ­
g a n g s p u n k t a lle r ü b r ig e n M a te r i e n u n d F o r m e n b is

7» 99
h e ra b zum le tz te n Z usam m enhang - e t secundum

h o c im a g in a b e ris e x te n s io n e m m a t e r i a e e t f o rm a e a

su p re m o u sque J n f in u m e x te n s io n e m u n a m co n ti*

nuam “ ( e b e n d a , p . 3 1 3 ) . „ S i u n a e s t m a t e r i a u n i-

v e rs a lis o m n iu m r e r u m , h a e p r o p r i e t a t e s a d h a e re n t

e i : s c i l i c e t q u o d s i t p e r s e e x i s t e n s , u n i u s e s s e n tia e ,

s u s tin e n s d iv e rs ita te m , dans O m n ib u s e s s e n tia m

suam e t n o m en - W e n n d i e u n i v e r s a l e M a t e r i e a ller

D in g e e in e is t, hängen dem d ie e ig e n tü m lic h e n

B e s c h a f fe n h e ite n an, das w ill s a g e n , s i e e x i s t ie r t

d u rc h s ic h , is t v o n e in und d e rs e lb e n W e s e n h e it,

tr ä g t d ie V e rs c h ie d e n h e it, a lle m s e in W esen und

s e in e n N a m e n g e b e n d “ ( e b e n d a , p , 1 3 ).

G io rd a n o B ru tto

„ D ie G e w o h n h e it z u g la u b e n , s a g t A r is to te le s am
S c h l u ß d e s z w e i t e n B u c h s v o n d e r W e i s h e i t , i s t d ie
h a u p t s ä c h li c h s t e U r s a c h e , w e lc h e d e n m e n s c h lic h e n

V e r s ta n d a n d e r W a h r n e h m u n g s o v i e l e r D in g e h in ­
d e r t , d ie a n s ic h o ffe n a u f d e r H a n d li e g e n . W ie g ro ß
d i e M a c h t d i e s e r G e w o h n h e i t i s t , s a g t e r , ’ b e w e is e n
d ie G e s e tz e , f ü r d e r e n G e lt u n g f a b e l h a f te u n d k in ­
d is c h e G e w o h n h e ite n v ie l w ic h tig e r s i n d a ls s in n e n ­
f ä llig e T a ts a c h e n . D e n n w ie , s o b e m e r k t d a z u s e in
K o m m e n ta to r A v erro es, M e n s c h e n s ic h s e lb s t a n
G if te d e r m a ß e n g e w ö h n e n k ö n n e n , d a ß ih n e n s o lc h e
w ie n a t u r g e m ä ß e N a h r u n g E r f r i s c h u n g b e r e ite n , s o
k a n n a n d e r e r s e it s d a s , w a s a u f a lle a n d e r e n h e ils a m
und b e le b e n d w ir k t, ih n e n v e rd e rb lic h w erd en .

1 0 0
D ie je n ig e n a b e r , w e l c h e das F a tu m m it b e s s e r e n

G e is t e s g a b e n a u s g e s t a t t e t h a t , d i e k e i n e S c h l u m m e r ­

köpfe s i n d , k ö n n e n o h n e große S c h w ie r ig k e it d a s

ü b era ll a u s g e g o s s e n e L i c h t a u f f a n g e n , w e n n s i e n u r

zur E n t s c h e i d u n g d e r U r t e i l s k r a f t ü b e r d e n S t r e it

z w is c h e n G l a u b e n u n d V e r n u n ft b e r u fe n und a ls

R ic h te r z w i s c h e n d e n b e i d e n S t r e i t e n d e n a u s g e l o s t ,

h e r v o r tr e te n d aus d e m N eb el d es g e m e in e n V or­

u r te ils d i e G r ü n d e j e d e r P a r t e i a u f m e r k s a m a n h ö r e n

u n d s o r g f ä lt ig p r ü f e n u n d m i t g e n a u e r W a a g e a l l e s ,

w as d e n S i n n e n o f f e n b a r , u n w i d e r l e g b a r , z u g e s t a n ­

d en o d er f e s ts te h e n d , b e f r e u n d e t u n d g e w o h n t e r ­

s c h e in t , s o b a ld es g le ic h w o h l in Z w e if e l g e z o g e n

w ir d , m i t d e m , w a s d e m G egner n och so ab su rd

V ork om m en m a g , v e r g le ic h e n u n d abw ägen. D en n


so n u r w e r d e n s ie s c h lie ß lic h in d e n A u g e n d e r G ö t t e r

u n d M e n s c h e n n ic h t b lin d , w ie d e r g e m e in e P ö b e l,
w ie d i e k n e c h t i s c h e u n d d u m m e H e r d e i n t i e f s t e r
D u n k e l h e it u n d i m fin s te r n V e r lie ß d e r U n w i s s e n ­
h e it , s o n d e r n i m h e l l e n T a g e s l i c h t d e r W a h r h e i t i h r e
M e in u n g b ill ig e n k ö n n e n , w ie a lle j e n e , d i e v o n d e r
E x is t e n z e in e r g ö t t l i c h e n W a h r h e i t ü b e r z e u g t s i n d .
H ie r a b e r s t e h e n w ir a u f e i n e m B od en , w o G e­
d a n k e n f r e ih e it w a l t e t , w o j e d e r E i n z e l n e e i n g e d e n k
s e in s o l l , d a ß i h m d i e G a b e d e r k ö r p e r l i c h e n u n d
g e is tig e n S e h k r a ft n ic h t u m s o n s t v e r lie h e n is t , d a ß
er s e i n e A u g e n n i c h t n a c h W u n s c h v o n G a u k le r n
und Ig n o r a n te n zu v e r s c h lie ß e n b r a u c h t, d aß er
n ic h t u n d a n k b a r g e g e n d e n g ü t ig e n S ch ö p fe r d er
N a t u r d i e G a b e d e r V e r n u n f t v e r a c h t e t , a ls w e n n

io x
s o lc h e s ic h m i t a n d e r e n G a b e n d e r s e l b e n G ottheit
n i c h t v e r e i n i g e n l i e ß e u n d a l s o b e i n e W a h rh e it der
a n d e re n im W e g e s t e h e n , w a h r e s L i c h t e in anderes
w a h re s L i c h t v e r f in s te r n k ö n n te - u n d h ie r sollten
w i r u n s v o r d i e s e m U n t e r s c h e i d u n g s - u n d P rü fu n g s ­
v e rm ö g e n , d e m w e r t v o l l s t e n K e r n u n s e r e s W esens,
ja sozu sagen vor uns s e lb e r e n tse tz e n und ver­
s t e c k e n ? E i n g e d e n k v i e l m e h r d e r u n s in n e w o h n e n ­
d e n G o t t h e i t u n d d e s i n d e r B u r g u n s e r e s G eistes
s t r a h l e n d e n L i c h t s l a ß t u n s d i e F o r s c h e r a u g e n d a h in
w e n d e n , w o w i r , s o b a l d w i r g e n a u e r z u s e h e n , g an z
g e w i ß e i n e K e n n t n i s e r l a n g e n , v o r d e r e n S c h ö n h e it,
H e ilig k e it u n d W a h r h e it, v o r d e r e n N a tü rlic h k e it
je d e s tr ü g e r is c h e S o p h ism a v e rs c h w in d e t u n d der
A b e rg la u b e tr ä u m e r is c h e r W ah rsa g e r zusam m en­
b r ic h t.
V o n h ie r a u s w ir d d e r G e is t, s ic h s e in e r M a c h t b e­
w u ß t, d e n F lu g in s U n e n d lic h e w a g e n , w o er zuvor
im e n g s t e n K e r k e r e i n g e s c h l o s s e n w a r , v o n w o aus
er nur g e w is s e rm a ß e n d u rch R itz e n und k le in e
L ö c h e r d ie S e h k r a f t s e in e r k u rz s ic h tig e n A u g en zu
d e n e n tf e r n te s te n L ic h tf u n k e n d e r G e s tir n e r ic h te n
k o n n te - und noch dazu w aren s e in e F lü g e l g e ­
w is s e rm a ß e n b e s c h n itte n m it dem M esse r e in e s
s tu m p fe n g e w o h n h e itsm ä ß ig e n G la u b e n s , d e r z w i­
s c h e n u n s u n d d e r H e r r lic h k e it n e id is c h e r G ö tte r
• e in e N e b e lw a n d b ild e te , ja e in e W o lk e n b a n k a u s d e r
e ig e n e n E in b ild u n g s k r a ft s c h u f, d ie er s e lb s t f ü r
aus E rz und S ta h l b e s te h e n d ansah. A b e r b e fr e it
von d ie s e m S c h re c k b ild e der S te r b lic h k e it, des

1 0 2
S c h ic k s a lz o r n s ,d e s b l e i e r n e n U r t e i l s , v o n d e n K e t t e n

g ra u sa m er E r in n y e n u n d d e n E i n b il d u n g e n p a r t e i­

is c h e r L i e b e s c h w i n g t e r s i c h d e m Ä t h e r z u , d u r c h ­

sch w eb t das u n b e g r e n z te R a u m g e b ie t so g r o ß e r u n d

z a h llo s e r W e l t e n , b e s u c h t d i e G e s t i r n e u n d ü b e r f l i e g t

d ie e i n g e b i l d e t e n G renzen d es A lls . D ie M au ern

jen er a c h t e n , n e u n t e n , z e h n t e n u n d a n d e r e r S p h ä r e n ,

d ie b l i n d e r W a h n d e r P h i l o s o p h e n u n d M a t h e m a t i k e r

s ic h e i n b i l d e t , s i n d versch w u n d en . M it H ilf e der

v o n d e n S in n e n u n d d e r V e r n u n f t z u g l e i c h g e l e i t e t e n

F o r sc h u n g w e r d e n d ie S c h lö s s e r d e r W a h r h e it g e ­

ö ffn e t, d ie B lin d e n s e h e n d , d e n S t u m m e n w ir d d ie

Z u n ge g e lö s t, d ie b is la n g in j e d e m g e is tig e n F o r t­

s c h r it t G e l ä h m t e n e r l a n g e n neu e K r ä fte , u m d ie

S o n n e, d e n M o n d u n d a n d e r e W o h n u n g e n im H a u s e

A ll- V a t e r s a u f z u s u c h e n , ä h n l i c h e d i e s e r W e lt, d ie
w ir b e w o h n e n , k l e i n e r e u n d s c h l e c h t e r e , a b e r a u c h
größ ere u n d b esse re in u n e n d lic h e r A b s tu fu n g . S o
g e l a n g e n w ir z u e i n e r w ü r d i g e r e n A n s c h a u u n g d e r
G o tth e it und d ie s e r M u tte r -N a tu r , d ie uns in
ih r e m S c h o ß e h e r v o r b r i n g t , e r h ä l t u n d w i e d e r a u f ­
n im m t , w e r d e n f e r n e r h i n n i c h t m e h r g l a u b e n , d a ß
ir g e n d e in K ö r p e r ohne S e e le s e i, oder gar, w ie
m a n c h e l ü g e n , d a ß die M a ter ie n ic h t anderes sei, als
eine Jauchegrube chem ischer S to ffe ,“

D er E rw e c k e r od er E ine V e r ­
teidigung von Thesen des N o -
laners.
G iordano B r u n o , G esam m elte
W erke, zp o p , V I , S . i 2 o j f .

103
D a s j e n i g e , w a s d i e F o r m e n n i c h t g i b t , s o n d e rn ans
d e r M a te r ie , a n i h r z u m L i c h t b r i n g t , i s t bei B runo
n u n g ä n z l i c h n a t u r a n a t u r a n s . S i e v e r h ä l t sic h zur
M a te r ie (m it e in e m B i l d , d a s s c h ö n b e i A verroes
v o r k o m m t) w ie d e r S te u e rm a n n z u m S c h iff, aber
d u r c h a u s i h m i n n e w o h n e n d . A u ß e r A r is to te le s lä ß t
B ru n o , z u m T e i l m i t p r o d u k t i v e m M iß v e r s tä n d n i s ,
n o c h v i e l e a n t i k e P h i l o s o p h e n , a u c h d i e v o rs o k ra ti-
schen H y lo z o is te n ( S to ff b e le b e r) fü r d i e „ in n ig e
V e re in ig u n g von M a te rie und u n iv e rs a le r F o rm “
z e u g e n . F ü r j e n e s S t o f f - F o r m - V e r h ä l t n i s a ls o , d a s ,
w ie B ru n o e r k e n n t, „ a u s A r is to te le s und a n d e re n
v o n ä h n lic h e r R ic h tu n g “ e n ts ta m m t:
„ W a s d i e b e w i r k e n d e U r s a c h e b e t r i f f t , s o h a l t e ic h
fü r d ie p h y s is c h e a llg e m e in e b e w ir k e n d e U rsa c h e
d ie a llg e m e in e V e r n u n f t, d a s o b e r s te u n d h a u p ts ä c h ­
l i c h s t e V e r m ö g e n d e r W e l ts e e l e , w e l c h e d e s W e lt­
a lls a l lg e m e in e F o r m i s t .
D i e u n i v e r s e l l e V e r n u n f t i s t d a s i n n e r s t e , w ir k lic h s te
u n d e i g e n s t e V e r m ö g e n u n d d e r T e i l d e r W e l ts e e l e ,
d i e i h r e M a c h t b i l d e t . S i e i s t e i n I d e n t i s c h e s , w e lc h e s
d a s A ll e r f ü ll t, d a s U n iv e r s u m e r l e u c h t e t u n d d ie
N a tu r u n te rw e is t, ih r e G a t t u n g e n , s o w ie s ie s e in
s o lle n , h e r v o r z u b r in g e n . S ie v e r h ä l t s i c h d e m n a c h
z u r H e r v o r b r in g u n g d e r D in g e i n der N a t u r , w ie
u n s e r e V e r n u n f t s ic h z u r e n t s p r e c h e n d e n H e rv o r­
b r i n g u n g d e r s i n n v o l l e n G e s t a l t e n v e r h ä l t . S ie w i r d
v o n d e n P y th a g o r ä e r n d e r B e w e g e r u n d E r r e g e r d e s
U n iv e rsu m s g e n a n n t, w ie der D ic h te r e s in den
W o r te n a u s d r ü c k t ( V e r g il, Ä n e is V I , 7 2 6 ) :

1 0 4
........ D u r c h a lle G lie d e r e r g o s s e n ,

tr e ib t d i e V e r n u n f t d i e M a s s e d e s A l l s u n d d u r c h ­

d r in g e t d e n K örper.

V on d e n P la to n ik e r n w ir d s ie d e r W e ltb a u m e is te r

g e n a n n t. D ie s e r B a u m e is te r , s a g e n s i e , t r i t t a u s d e r

h ö h e re n W e lt, w e lc h e v ö llig e in s i s t , i n d i e s e s i n n ­

lic h e W e lt h i n ü b e r , w e l c h e i n d i e V i e l h e i t z e r f a l l e n

is t, w o w e g e n d e r T r e n n u n g d e r T e i l e n i c h t n u r d i e

F r e u n d s c h a ft, s o n d e r n a u c h d ie F e i n d s c h a f t h e r r s c h t .

D ie s e V e r n u n f t b r i n g t a l le s h e r v o r , i n d e m s i e , s e l b s t

s ic h r u h i g und u n b e w e g lic h e r h a lte n d , e tw a s von

d e m I h r ig e n in d ie M a te r ie e in g ie ß t u n d i h r z u te ilt.

S ie w i r d v o n d e n M a g i e r n ( P e r s e r n ) d e r f r u c h t b a r s t e

der Sam en, o d er auch d e r S ä m a n n g e n a n n t; d e n n

s ie i s t e s , w e l c h e d i e M a t e r i e m i t a l l e n F o r m e n e r ­

fü llt, s ie n a c h d er d u rc h d ie le tz te re n gegebenen

W e ise u n d B e d in g u n g g e s t a l t e t u n d m i t je n e r F ü lle

b e w u n d e ru n g sw ü rd ig e r O rd n u n g d u rc h w e b t, d ie

n ic h t dem Z u fa ll noch so n st e in e m P rin z ip zu­


g e s c h r ie b e n w e r d e n k ö n n e n ,w e lc h e s n i c h t z u s c h e i d e n

und zu o rd n e n v e rs tä n d e . O rp h e u s n e n n t s ie d a s
A uge der W e lt, w e il s ie d ie D in g e in der N a tu r
in n e r lic h u n d ä u ß e r lic h ü b e r s c h a u t , d a m i t a lle s n i c h t
b lo ß in n e rlic h , s o n d e r n a u c h ä u ß e r lic h s ic h in d e m
ih m e ig e n tü m lic h e n E b e n m a ß e e r z e u g e u n d e r h a lte .
V on E m p e d o k le s w ir d s ie der U n te r s c h e id e r ge­
n a n n t , w e il s ie n ie m a ls m ü d e w i r d , d ie o r d n u n g s lo s
d u r c h e in a n d e rg e w o rfe n e n F o rm e n in dem Schoße
der M a te rie z u so n d e rn und aus d em U n te r g a n g
d e s e i n e n d a s a n d e r e s i c h e r z e u g e n z u lassen. Plotin
n e n n t s i e d e n V a t e r u n d U r z e u g e r , w e ii s i e d ie Samen
a u f d e m G e f i l d e d e r N a t u r v e r s t r e u t u n d d e r nächste
A u s t e i l e r d e r F o r m e n i s t . W i r n e n n e n s ie d e n inneren
K ü n s t l e r , w e i l s i e d i e M a t e r i e f o r m t u n d v o n innen
h e r a u s g e s t a l t e t , w i e s i e a u s d e m I n n e r n d e s Samens
o d e r d e r W u rz e l d e n S ta m m h e r v o r l o c k t u n d ent­
w i c k e l t , a u s d e m I n n e r n d e s S t a m m e s d i e Ä ste tre ib t,
aus d em I n n e r n d e r Ä s t e d i e Z w e i g e g e s ta lte t, aus
dem I n n e r n d i e s e r d i e K n o s p e n b i l d e t , v o n in n e n
h e ra u s w ie aus e in e m in n e rn L e b e n d i e B lä tte r,
B lü te n , F rü c h te f o r m t, g e s ta lte t u n d v e rp flic h te t,
und von in n e n w ie d e r z u b e s tim m te n Z e ite n d ie
S ä f te a u s L aub und F r ü c h t e n i n d i e Z w e ig e , aus
den Z w e ig e n i n d ie Ä ste , a u s den Ä s te n in den
S t a m m , a u s d e m S t a m m i n d i e W u r z e l z u rü c k le ite t.“

V o n d e r U r s a c h e , d e m P rin z ip
u n d dem E inen ( Philos.BiblJ,
S . 2 9 ff.

. N ic h t v o n u n g e f ä h r w i r d h ie r d a s s to fflic h e W achs­
tu m im u r a l t e n B ild des B aum s a u s g e d r ü c k t . E in
n e u e r S a ft is t b e i B r u n o in s c h o la s tis c h e , o fts o tio k -
k e n e r s c h e i n e n d e B e g r i f f e g e f a h r e n , w e n n e r s ie ü b e r ­
n i m m t . U n d e s i s t u n l e u g b a r , d a ß d ie s e r S a f t, in d e m
er h e id n is c h s c h m e c k t, auch m anche m y th is c h e n
B e s ta n d t e i l e e n t h ä l t , j e d o c h a ls e n t g i f t e t e . S o k o m m t
d a s B ild v o m W e ltb a u m fa s t in a lle n A s tra lm y th e n
v o r u n d w u rz e lt im A b g r u n d d e r E r d k r ä f te . Ja , es

1 0 6
s c h r e ib t s ic h sogar d e r T e rm in u s M a te r ie s e lb e r
(b e i L u k rez z u e rst p h ilo s o p h is c h v e rw e n d e t) von
„ M a te r “ h e r u n d h a t w e d e r b e i A r is to te le s n o c h g a r
b ei B ru n o d ie s e n s e in e n u r tü m lic h e n M u tte r c h a r a k ­
te r , G r u n d - u n d S c h o ß c h a r a k te r v e r g e s s e n . A n k lä n g e
a n e in e n s o lc h e n , g le ic h s a m „ c h t h o n i s c h “ g e h a l te n e n
M a te ria lis m u s f in d e n s ic h e b e n b e i L u k r e z , w e n n e r
s e in g ro ß e s e n tz a u b e r n d e s L e h r g e d i c h t „ D e r e r u m
n a tu ra “ tr o tz d e m m it e in e m A n ru f an d ie V e n u s
e r ö f f n e t, a ls d i e A l l m u t t e r d e s S e i n s , a ls m y t h i s c h
b e z e ic h n e te n a t u r a n a t u r a n s i m B a u m d e s L e b e n s . B e ­
z e ic h n e n d e rw e is e i s t e s i n B r u n o s „ D e i l a c a u s a p r i n -
c ip io e d u n o “ g e r a d e d e r w i d e r li c h e , v ö llig u n p h il o s o ­
p h is c h e P e d a n t P o li i n n io ,d e r i m 4 . D ia l o g m i t g le ic h e r
P fä ffis c h k e it g e g e n W e ib , M u t t e r u n d M a te rie lo s ­
z ie h t: „ N ic h t o h n e G r u n d h a t e s d e n S e n a to rib u s
im R e ic h e d e r P a lla s g e f a lle n , d ie M a t e r i a m u n d d a s
W e ib e in a n d e r g l e i c h z u s e t z e n A n d e r e r s e i t s i s t d e r
Z w a n g d ie s e r a lte n G le ic h s e tz u n g , v e r b u n d e n m it
d e m n o c h ä lte re n B a u m - A r c h e ty p , s o s ta r k , d a ß d a s
B ild d e r b l ü h e n d e n , f r u c h t t r a g e n d e n B a u m - M a t e r i e
ü b e ra ll d o r t s ic h p o s itiv a u f d r a n g , w o - u n t e r m o r ­
g e n lä n d is c h e m E i n f lu ß - M a te r i e a ls E i n e in a l le n g e -
s c h ö p f lic h e n D i n g e n d a r g e s t e l l t w u r d e , s e ie n s ie k ö r ­
p e r lic h e r o d e r g e is tig e r N a t u r . S o b e i d e m g ro ß en
S p ä ts c h o la s tik e r D u n s S c o tu s , e r n i m m t u n t e r a u s ­
d rü c k lic h e m B ezu g a u f A v ic e b r o n s „ m a te r ia u n iv e r -
s a lis “ d a s B a u m - B ild B r u n o s e b e n s o v o r w e g , w ie e r
es d a d u r c h in s e in e r K o n s e q u e n z b e s tä tig t. D enn
D uns S c o tu s s c h r e ib t in „D e re ru m p rin c ip io “

107
( q u a e s tio 8 , a r t . 4 ) g le ic h f a l ls : „ E x h is a p p a re t, quod
m u n d u s e s t a r b o r q u a e d a m p u l c h e r r i m a , c u ju s ra ö ix
e t s e m i n a r i u i n e s t m a t e r i a p r i m a , f o li a flu e n tia s u n t
a c d d e n tia , fro n te s et ram i sunt c re a ta c o rru p ti-
b i l i a , f lo s a n i m a r a t i o n a l i s , f r u c t u s n a t u r a a n g e l ic a “ . -

„ D i e W e l t a ls o is t e i n h e r r li c h e r B a u m , d e s s e n W u rze l
u n d S a m e d i e e r s t e M a t e r i e , d e s s e n B l ä t t e r d i e flü c h ­
t i g e n A c c i d e n t i e n , d e s s e n Ä s t e u n d Z w e i g e d ie v e r­

g ä n g lic h e n G e s c h ö p f e , d e s s e n B lü te d ie v e rn ü n ftig e
S e e le u n d d e s s e n F r ü c h t e e n d l i c h d i e r e i n e n G e is te r
s in d .“ D u n s S c o tu s s a g t a n d e r s e lb e n S te lle : „E g o

a u te m a d p o s itio n e m A v ic e m b r o n is r e d e o “ - m ith in
d e r B a u m b e g r i f f „ m a t e r i a u n i v e r s a l i s “ , d e r S c o tu s

u n d B r u n o g e m e in s a m e , i s t h ie r b e w u ß t A v ic e b ro n

v e r p flic h te t. D uns S c o tu s s itz t so n st f r e ilic h im

L ic h t d e s C h r is te n tu m s , m it je n s e itig e m T h e is m u s ,

w ä h re n d J e n s e its , D u a lis m u s i n B r u n o s u n e n d lic h

m a te r ie lle m W e ltb a u m g ä n z lic h a u f h ö r e n . N u n e b e n


b le ib t d ie F o rm a m S t o f f n i c h t s Ä u ß e r l i c h e s , w ie d a s

a lle S c h o la s t ik e r d e r R e c h t e n g e l e h r t h a t t e n , s o n d e r n ,

u m n o c h m a ls z u s a m m e n z u fa s s e n : M a te rie u n d F o rm ,

W e rd e n k ö n n e n und W irk e n k ö n n e n z e ig e n s ic h in

g le ic h e r n a t u r a n a tu r a n s v e r b u n d e n . J a ,s ie im p liz ie r e n

s ic h i n e i n e r G e g e n s e it ig k e i t, d ie d i e p a s s iv e u n d d ie

a k tiv e P o te n z s c h lie ß lic h d e m S e in n a c h i n E in s z u ­

s a m m e n f a lle n lä ß t. S o i s t d e r K a m p f z w is c h e n I d e a ­

lis m u s und M a te ria lis m u s , den d ie A r is to te lis c h e

L in k e a u f ih re A rt k ä m p fte (u n d d e r fre ilic h n ic h t

n u r a u s T o ts c h la g , s o n d e rn au s E rb s c h a ft d e s Id e a ­

lis m u s b e s te h t, wo im m e r d ie s e r e in fru c h tb a re r,

10 8
p ro g r e s s iv e r w a r) - d ie s e r K a m p f is t b e i B r u n o d e u t­
lic h z u g u n s te n d e r E r k lä r u n g d e s D a s e in s a u s s ic h
s e lb s t a u s g e fa lle n . A v ic e n n a w ird e n ts c h ie d e n e r in
A v e r r o e s , A v e r ro e s e n ts c h ie d e n e r in B r u n o , P h ilo s o ­
p h i e b e s ie g t n u n w a c h s e n d a u c h je n e s u b lim s t e G e -
s p e n s tß r le h r e , d ie d ie d e r r e in e n F o r m h e iß t.
N i c h t m e h r d e n S to f f a b w e rfe n , s o n d e r n ih n im m e r
ti e f e r a u f s c h li e ß e n ,d a r a u f k o m m t es v o n h ie r a b a n .
H a u p ts a c h e b e i B r u n o b le ib t, d a ß e r d ie E in h e it d e r
F o rm ( d e s T ä tig e n ) und d e r M a te r ie f e s th ä lt, d a ß
d ie M a te rie a n ih r s e lb s t p r o d u k tiv is t. E s is t d a s
e i n e g ro ß e B e s tim m u n g , m it b e d e u t e n d e r W irk u n g ,
m i t d e r v o n A v ic e n n a e in g e le ite te n , m it B r u n o n ic h t
a b g e s c h lo ss e n e n . N o c h fe h lt b ei ih m d e r M e n s c h in
d e r n a t u r a n a tu r a n s ; e s f e h lt d e r g e s a m te A s p e k t d e r
d ie N a tu r fo rts e tz e n d e n A rb e it u n d G e s c h ic h te ; es
f e h l t e r s t r e c h t - d u r c h d ie K la s s e n la g e w ie d u r c h
d e n g e s c h lo s s e n e n P a n im P a n th e is m u s v e r h in d e r t -
d er A sp ekt d es N euen. A b e r w ie s ic h i n B ru n o s
L e b e n s f lu te n , T a t e n s tu r m d u r c h a u s D ia le k tik fin d e t,
s c h a r f v e rfo lg te S p a n n u n g u n d E in h e it d e r G e g e n ­
s ä tz e , so h a t d ie s w e c h s e ln d e W e b e n e in e u n e r s ta r r te
M a te r ie zum S u b s tra t, e in e d e r E n tw ic k lu n g und
Q u a lifiz ie ru n g a ls f ä h ig g e d a c h te . D a s a lle s e r g i b t
M e r k p u n k t e w ic h tig e r , k a u m m e h r ü b e r s e h b a r e r A r t;
s ie s in d , o b w o h l s ie z u m T e i l n o c h d ie s s e its d e s
f o r tg e s c h r it te n e n B e w u ß ts e in s lie g e n , la u te r P o in te n
g e g e n e n g e M e c h a n is tik . D a h e r w u rd e o b e n g e s a g t:
H e g e l is t w ic h tig d u r c h d ie d ia le k tis c h e M e th o d e
(u n d w a s d a m it z u s a m m e n h ä n g t) , a b e r A ris to te le s
u n d s e in e L in k e s in d w i c h t i g w e g e n i h r e s B e g r iff s
v o n M a t e r i e . N i c h t n u r H e g e l, a u c h d e r A ris to te lis c h e
M a t e r i e - B e g r i f f u n d s e i n e r a d i k a l i s i e r e n d e n ( a u f d ie
W u rz e l d r in g e n d e n ) A v ic e n n a -B r u n o -V e r w a n d lu n ­
gen s in d im d i a l e k t i s c h e n M a t e r i a l i s m u s le b e n d ig ,
e in s o n d e r lic h b e a c h tb a r e s F e r m e n t . S ie g e h ö re n z u r
E n tw ic k lu n g d e s M a te ria lis m u s d e r T ä tig k e it und
H o ffn u n g , z u m U n t e r s c h i e d v o m r e i n o d e r u n r e in
m e c h a n is c h e n , a ls d e m d e r S ta tik u n d Q u a litä ts lo s ig -
k e it. A u c h d e r G e i s t a ls h ö c h s te B l ü t e d e r o rg a n i­
s c h e n M a t e r i e , w ie E n g e ls s a g t, k ö n n te ih r n ic h t
e n ts p r in g e n und das D a s e in v erän d e rn , w enn er
von ih r n ic h t b e d in g t u n d h e rv o rg e ru fe n , a ls o in
i h r n i c h t d i s p o n i e r t u n d l e t z t h i n e i n h e i m i s c h w ä re .
Er w ird v o n d e r M a te r ie u m sc h lo sse n , w e i l d ie s e
s e lb e r d a s e n tste h e n d e B e w u ß ts e in a ls i h r e ig e n e s *
b e s itz t u n d d ie lo g is c h -d ia le k tis c h e n P ro z e ß fig u re n
a ls i h r e e ig e n e n I n f o r m a t i o n e n f o r m i e r t . D ie F o r­
m e n d e r M a te r ie s in d d ie M ä c h tig k e ite n d e r M a te rie
s e lb s t — o h n e m e c h a n is c h e n K lo tz , o h n e d arü b e r
sc h w e b e n d e n B e w e g e r.

H O
E R N ST B L O C H

A V I C E N N A

U N D

D I E A R I S T O T E L I S C H E L I N K E

R & L

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