This study is the first comprehensive analysis of the physical theory of the Islamic
philosopher Avicenna (d. 1037). It seeks to understand his contribution against the
developments within the preceding Greek and Arabic intellectual milieus and to appreciate his
philosophy as such by emphasising his independence as a critical and systematic thinker.
Exploring Avicenna's method of teaching and learning it investigates the implications of his
account of the natural body as a three-dimensionally extended composite of matter and form and
examines his views on nature as a principle of motion and his analysis of its relation to soul.
Moreover it demonstrates how Avicenna defends the Aristotelian conception of place against the
strident criticism of his predecessors among other things by disproving the existence of void
and space. Finally it sheds new light on Avicenna's account of the essence and the existence
of time. For the first time taking into account the entire range of Avicenna's major writings
this study fills a gap in our understanding both of the history of natural philosophy in
general and of the philosophy of Avicenna in particular.
