Medieval Islamic Philosophical Writings

This book presents a selection of texts by the most celebrated philosophers of the classical period of Islam.

Muhammad Ali Khalidi (Edited by)

9780521529631, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 3 January 2005

240 pages
22.6 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.32 kg

'Overall, the book is an excellent introduction to the intricate and involved world of medieval Islamic learning - an enriching experience for both general readers and advanced students.' Muzaffar Iqbal, Center for Islam and Science, Canada

Philosophy in the Islamic world emerged in the ninth century and continued to flourish into the fourteenth century. It was strongly influenced by Greek thought, but Islamic philosophers also developed an original philosophical culture of their own, which had a considerable impact on the subsequent course of Western philosophy. This volume offers new translations of philosophical writings by Farabi, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Ghazali, Ibn Tufayl, and Ibn Rushd (Averroes). All of the texts presented here were very influential and invite comparison with later works in the Western tradition. They focus on metaphysics and epistemology but also contribute to broader debates concerning the conception of God, the nature of religion, the place of humanity in the universe, and the limits of human reason. A historical and philosophical introduction sets the writings in context and traces their preoccupations and their achievement.

Farabi, The Book of Letters
Ibn Sina, On the Soul
Ghazali, The Rescuer from Error
Ibn Tufayl, Hayy bi Yaqzan
Ibn Rushd, The Incoherence of the Incoherence.

Subject Areas: Islamic studies [JFSR2], Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge [HPK], Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology [HPJ], Islamic & Arabic philosophy [HPDC]