The possibility of "connecting to the active intellect" in Ibn Bajja's philosophical anthropology

Ibn Bajja’s (Avempace) anthropology can be examined from various socio-political, philosophical, and mystical perspectives. In this article, we examine Ibn Bajja’s philosophical anthropology centered on “connection to the active intellect,” and the question is how “connection to the active intellect,” which is the happiness and theoretical perfection of man, is achieved? And with the descriptive-analytical method, we reach these findings. Connection to the active intellect for man occurs in two ways: one is an ascending path, and the other is a descending path. And we have reached the conclusion that connection to the active intellect and the perfection of theoretical knowledge for man does not occur alone and solely by relying on the natural powers of reason and acquiring theoretical knowledge, but rather that same theoretical understanding and knowledge is also realized by divine grace and blessing; That is, in addition to going through the rational stages and understanding spiritual forms, “light,” “illumination,” and “grace” are also needed, and Ibn Bājaa’s theory of “grace” complements and supplements the theory of “connection to the active intellect” to achieve the ultimate goal of man. Another result is that, according to the intellectual perfection of man, in the ascending process to the active intellect, three levels of humanity are created, which are longitudinal.