The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy

An accessible introduction to Arabic philosophy from the 'classical' period to later Islamic thought.

Peter Adamson (Edited by), Richard C. Taylor (Edited by)

9780521520690, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 9 December 2004

468 pages, 1 table
22.9 x 15 x 2.5 cm, 0.7 kg

'… a precious depository of scholarship and an indispensable tool for anyone who wants to acquire a comprehensive view of Arabic philosophy, or gain a deeper appreciation of its different authors and parts. From it, the reader facing Arabic philosophy for the first time will get a basic orientation in this important area of culture, the student will acquire updated, competent and enlightening information, and the researcher will find a sure and clear guide to the intricacies of the field.' International Journal of the Classical Tradition

Philosophy written in Arabic and in the Islamic world represents one of the great traditions of Western philosophy. Inspired by Greek philosophical works and the indigenous ideas of Islamic theology, Arabic philosophers from the ninth century onwards put forward ideas of great philosophical and historical importance. This collection of essays, by some of the leading scholars in Arabic philosophy, provides an introduction to the field by way of chapters devoted to individual thinkers (such as al-Farabi, Avicenna and Averroes) or groups, especially during the 'classical' period from the ninth to the twelfth centuries. It also includes chapters on areas of philosophical inquiry across the tradition, such as ethics and metaphysics. Finally, it includes chapters on later Islamic thought, and on the connections between Arabic philosophy and Greek, Jewish, and Latin philosophy. The volume also includes a useful bibliography and a chronology of the most important Arabic thinkers.

1. Introduction Peter Adamson and Richard C. Taylor
2. Greek into Arabic: neoplatonism in translation Cristina D'Ancona
3. Al-Kindî and the reception of Greek philosophy Peter Adamson
4. Al-Fârâbî and the philosophical curriculum David Reisman
5. The Ismâ'îlîs Paul Walker
6. Avicenna and the Avicennian tradition Robert Wisnovsky
7. Al-Gazâlî Michael E. Marmura
8. Philosophy in Andalusia: Ibn Bâjja and Ibn Tufayl Josep Puig Montada
9. Averroes: religious dialectic and Aristotelian philosophical thought Richard C. Taylor
10. Suhrawardî and illuminationism John Walbridge
11. Mysticism and philosophy: Obn 'Arabî and Mullâ Sadrâ Sajjad H. Rizvi
12. Logic Tony Street
13. Ethical and political philosophy Charles E. Butterworth
14. Natural philosophy Marwan Rashed
15. Psychology: soul and intellect Deborah L. Black
16. Metaphysics Thérèse-Anne Druart
17. Islamic philosophy and Jewish philosophy Steven Harvey
18. Arabic into Latin: the reception of Arabic philosophy into Western Europe Charles Burnett
19. Recent trends in Arabic and Persian philosophy Hossein Ziai.

Subject Areas: Islamic studies [JFSR2], Islamic & Arabic philosophy [HPDC]