Analytical Study of True wretchedness from Avicenna's Perspective

Using analytic-descriptive method the present paper is to examine the subject wretchedness in Ibn Sina’s thought. In explaining the meaning of wretchedness, he regards it as sort of pain as opposed to felicity and believes that if pain and suffering are eternal, they constitute wretchedness. Avicenna divides into four types of sensual, imaginal, fanciful and rational. He characterizes wretchedness as eternal rational suffering. Explaining different elements that result in wretchedness such as injustice (violation of the mean ) and love for this worldly gains he offers two way to overcome the problem: different ways to achieve felicity which the opposite of wretchedness and also the various ways that do not lead to either felicity or wretchedness. In responding the question whether or not absolute wretchedness is attainable in this world he answers negatively and says it is only obtainable in the world to come i.e. hereafter.