The Necessary Existent and the Heat Death: Entropy as a Sign of Contingency and Singularity in Avicennian Cosmology

Abstract

This study re-examines the cosmological implications of entropy, motion, and the expansion of the universe through the lens of Avicenna’s metaphysical framework. Drawing from both classical Islamic philosophical discourse and contemporary cosmological theories, the paper investigates how modern observations—such as the increase in entropy, the directionality of time, and the ongoing expansion of space—can be interpreted through Avicenna’s notion of necessary causality. The objective is to explore whether the Avicennian model of emanation and causation accommodates, anticipates, or contrasts with scientific descriptions of cosmological development. Methodologically, the study undertakes a conceptual analysis of Avicenna’s al-w?jib al-wuj?d (Necessary Existent) and his hierarchical metaphysics, juxtaposed with key principles of thermodynamics and Big Bang cosmology. A key interpretive insight is the proposition that reversing these observable processes—entropy, motion, and expansion—logically leads to a state of convergence or singularity. This resonates with Avicenna’s argument that multiplicity in existence necessarily emerges from unity, implying that the origin of the cosmos is a metaphysical singularity. The findings suggest that Avicenna’s philosophical model may provide a coherent metaphysical substrate for understanding cosmological origins, offering potential bridges between Islamic metaphysics and modern physics. This study contributes to the discourse on the integration of philosophical traditions with scientific cosmology and invites renewed attention to the relevance of Islamic thought in contemporary metaphysical debates.