Reactualizing Ibn Sina's Psychological Thought in Building the Foundations of Contemporary Psychology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58988/nafsana.v1i1.1237Keywords:
Ibn Sina, Islamic Psychology, Al-Nafs, Contemporary Psychology, Cognitive FunctionsAbstract
Contemporary psychology has made significant advances in explaining human behavior, cognition, emotion, personality, and mental health; however, its predominantly empirical and materialistic paradigm often provides limited space for moral, spiritual, and existential dimensions of human life. This study aims to reactualize Ibn Sina’s psychological thought as a conceptual foundation for developing a more holistic contemporary psychology. The research employs a library research approach combined with conceptual analysis and a historical-philosophical perspective. Data were obtained from primary sources, particularly Ibn Sina’s major works, including Kitāb al-Shifāʾ, Kitāb al-Najāt, Al-Ishārāt wa al-Tanbīhāt, and Al-Qānūn fī al-Ṭibb, as well as relevant secondary literature on Islamic philosophy, Islamic psychology, and contemporary psychology. Data were analyzed through content analysis and thematic synthesis to identify the relevance of concepts such as al-nafs, the faculties of the soul, cognitive functions, emotional regulation, moral development, and spiritual refinement to contemporary psychological theories. The findings indicate that Ibn Sina’s thought offers an integrative framework connecting biological, cognitive, emotional, moral, and spiritual dimensions of human development. The study concludes that reactualizing Ibn Sina’s psychological thought can enrich the epistemological foundations of contemporary psychology and provide a more holistic, inclusive, and contextually relevant understanding of human nature.
References
Akmal, M. J., Rahardja, M. N. A., Syahidin, S., & Fakhruddin, A. (2024). Membangun Potensi Melalui Pendidikan Anak: Perspektif Ibnu Sina dalam Islam. Al-Hikmah: Jurnal Agama Dan Ilmu Pengetahuan, 21(2), 250–263. https://doi.org/10.25299/al-hikmah:jaip.2024.vol21(2).19291
Al-Asyhar, T. (2024). Dimensi Holistik Psikologi Sufi: Studi Perbandingan Psikologi Mainstream: The Holistic Dimension of Sufi Psychology: A Comparative Study with Mainstream Psychology. Jurnal Bimas Islam, 17(2), 247–278. https://doi.org/10.37302/jbi.v17i2.1386
Alam, D. R. M., Khotimah, L., & Ikami, B. O. M. (2026). Integrasi Aliran-Aliran Psikologi Modern dalam Pendidikan Islam: Analisis Konseptual dan Implikasi Pedagogis. Educational Journal, 1(4), 2283–2296. https://doi.org/10.63822/k3teqe51
Alamsyah, A. A. (2025). Neurospiritualitas dalam Pendidikan Karakter: Antara Kognisi, Moralitas, dan Pengembangan Diri. PROGRESSA: Journal of Islamic Religious Instruction, 9(2), 128–139. https://doi.org/10.32616/pgr.v9.2.517.128-139
Begum, A. J. (2025). Self-Regulation BT - Cognitive Control Skills for Educational Success: Theory and Practice (A. J. Begum (ed.); pp. 193–234). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-6455-9_6
Buckner, C. J. (2023). From deep learning to rational machines: What the history of philosophy can teach us about the future of artificial intelligence. Oxford University Press.
Chaurasia, K. (2024). Psychological Well-being: Meaning, Characteristics. Education for Well-Being, 51.
Febriarko, Y., Harimurti, A., & Mahendra, R. (2024). Psikologi kontemporer: Risalah teoretis dan praktis psikologi masa kini. Sanata Dharma University Press.
Greene, J. A., Bernacki, M. L., & Hadwin, A. F. (2023). Self-regulation. Handbook of Educational Psychology, 314–334.
Hinostroza, F., & Mahr, M. M. (2025). The Implementation of the Biopsychosocial Model: Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Brain and Behavior, 15(1), e70230. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70230
Kumar, P. (2026). Modern Psychology Foundations. Educohack Press.
Pasaribu, H., Rosidi, A., Pratama, D. A., Wambrauw, A., Muliani, F., Widodo, S. S. S., Gunawan, H., Kusumawati, D., Latupeirissa, S. J., & Yuswanita, L. (2026). Metodologi penelitian. CV. Insight Media.
Putri, E. L. M., & Soleh, A. C. (2025). Ibn Sina’s Concept of the Soul: Clinical Psychological Thought Konsep Jiwa Ibnu Sina: Pemikiran Psikologi Klinis. Empatheia: Jurnal Psikologi, 2(2), 22–40. http://ejournal.iainutuban.ac.id/index.php/empatheia/article/view/1495
Rangkuti, F. R., & Maturidi, M. (2025). Integrasi Psikologi dan Pendidikan Islam: Kajian tentang Gejala Intelektual dan Struktur Psikis Manusia. SUWA: Journal of Education and Counseling, 1(3), 133–145. https://journal.independentresearchcenter.com/suwa/article/view/156
Sururin, M. A., Yulianti, E. R., Ag, D. S., Salistina, D., & Wafiqni, N. (2026). Psikologi Pendidikan. Publica Indonesia Utamaa.
Suyanto, S. H. (2023). Metode Penelitian Hukum Pengantar Penelitian Normatif, Empiris Dan Gabungan. Unigres Press.
Syafei, I. (2025). Filsafat Ilmu. Penerbit Widina.
Virlia, S., Widhigdo, J. C., & Rahmawati, K. D. (2025). Buku Ajar Psikologi Positif. Penerbit Universitas Ciputra.
Yusron, Y. (2025). The Concept of Humanity from the Perspective of Ibn Sina (Avicenna). Maklumat: Journal of Da’wah and Islamic Studies, 3(4), 279–295. https://doi.org/10.61166/maklumat.v3i4.89
Zhang, J., Qu, Q., & Chen, X.-B. (2023). A review on collective behavior modeling and simulation: building a link between cognitive psychology and physical action. Applied Intelligence, 53(21), 25954–25983. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10489-023-04924-7
