The Formation of the Integral Human Being from the Perspective of Consciousness: Ibn Sina and Santiago Ramón y Cajal
Journal of Indonesian Islamic Studies. May 3, 2026 Rahmad Ramadhan, Ridha Ahida
A conceptual synthesis of Ibn Sina's and Santiago Ramón y Cajal's ideas on consciousness offers a model for integral human development that unifies biological, intellectual, spiritual, and moral dimensions. Ibn Sina views consciousness as a manifestation of the soul (al-nafs) actualized through intellect (al-‘aql) toward maturity, while Cajal explains consciousness through neuronal organization, the nervous system, and neuroplasticity as the biological basis of cognition. These perspectives are complementary, providing a holistic foundation for education, character development, and future human-development research.