Philosophical Thought

The thought experiments of Avicenna's "Flying Man" and Jackson's "Mary's Room" are among the most important philosophical formulations concerning consciousness, yet they have often been examined independently. This research asks whether these two experiments address a single problem or reveal different layers of self-consciousness. Employing a descriptive-analytical method and conceptual reconstruction, the study elucidates their relationship within the framework of the "Architecture of Self-Consciousness." Findings indicate that the "Flying Man" pertains to immediate self-awareness and the condition for the possibility of a conscious subject, while "Mary's Room" uncovers phenomenal consciousness and the epistemic value of first-person experience. The paper proposes a three-layered model comprising immediate self-awareness, phenomenal consciousness, and reflective self-knowledge, arguing that these experiments are not rivals but mutually complementary, each illuminating a distinct level of the architecture of self-consciousness. This framework facilitates systematic dialogue between Islamic philosophy and contemporary philosophy of mind.