Accidents Quote by Avicenna
“Now it is established in the sciences that no knowledge is acquired save through the study of its causes and beginnings, if it has had causes and beginnings; nor completed except by knowledge of its accidents and accompanying essentials.”
About This Quote
Source Treat: The Canon of Medicine by Avicenna, 1025
Understanding a subject requires studying its origins and its details; both cause and effect are essential for full knowledge.
In simple terms: Know both origins and details to understand fully.
Key Takeaway
Study causes and details together.
Themes
knowledge
philosophy
science
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- medical diagnosis
- historical analysis
- policy making
Key Concepts
causality
essentialism
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance focus on origins versus details?
- What risks arise from ignoring accidents?
A Different Perspective
May overlook unexpected variables not fitting known causes.
![“Pure earth does not petrify, because the predominance of dryness over [i.e. in] the earth endows it not with coherence but rather with crumbliness. In general, stone is formed in two ways only (a) through the hardening of clay, and (b) by the congelation [of waters].” quote by Avicenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4b0/avicenna-19211_clay_pure-earth-does-not-petrify-because-the_878916.jpg)
