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Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring This book
provides an introduction to the most important philosopher of the
Islamic world, Ibn Sīnā, often known in English by his Latinized
name Avicenna. After introducing the man and his works, with an
overview of the historical context in which he lived, the book
devotes chapters to the different areas of Ibn Sīnā's thought.
Among the topics covered are his innovations in logic, his theory
of the human soul and its powers, the relation between his medical
writings and his philosophy, and his metaphysics of existence.
Particular attention is given to two famous arguments: his flying
man thought experiment and the so-called “demonstration of the
truthful,” a proof for the existence of God as the Necessary
Existent. A distinctive feature of the book is its attention to the
relationship between Ibn Sīnā and Islamic rational theology
(kalām): in which we see how Ibn Sīnā responded to this
tradition in many areas of his thought. A final chapter looks at
Ibn Sīnā's legacy in both the Islamic world and in Latin
Christendom. Here Adamson focuses on the critical responses to Ibn
Sīnā in subsequent generations by such figures as al-Ghazālī,
al-Suhrawardī, and Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī. ABOUT THE SERIES: The
Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press
contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These
pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new
subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis,
perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and
challenging topics highly readable.
Peter Adamson and Jonardon Ganeri present a lively introduction to
one of the world's richest intellectual traditions: the philosophy
of classical India. They begin with the earliest extant literature,
the Vedas, and the explanatory works that these inspired, known as
Upanisads. They also discuss other famous texts of classical Vedic
culture, especially the Mahabharata and its most notable section,
the Bhagavad-Gita, alongside the rise of Buddhism and Jainism. In
this opening section, Adamson and Ganeri emphasize the way that
philosophy was practiced as a form of life in search of liberation
from suffering. Next, the pair move on to the explosion of
philosophical speculation devoted to foundational texts called
'sutras,' discussing such traditions as the logical and
epistemological Nyaya school, the monism of Advaita Vedanta, and
the spiritual discipline of Yoga. In the final section of the book,
they chart further developments within Buddhism, highlighting
Nagarjuna's radical critique of 'non-dependent' concepts and the
no-self philosophy of mind found in authors like Dignaga, and
within Jainism, focusing especially on its 'standpoint'
epistemology. Unlike other introductions that cover the main
schools and positions in classical Indian philosophy, Adamson and
Ganeri's lively guide also pays attention to philosophical themes
such as non-violence, political authority, and the status of women,
while considering textual traditions typically left out of
overviews of Indian thought, like the Carvaka school, Tantra, and
aesthetic theory as well. Adamson and Ganeri conclude by focusing
on the much-debated question of whether Indian philosophy may have
influenced ancient Greek philosophy and, from there, evaluate the
impact that this area of philosophy had on later Western thought.
Philosophy in the Islamic world from the 9th to 11th centuries was
characterized by an engagement with Greek philosophical works in
Arabic translation. This volume collects papers on both the Greek
philosophers in their new Arabic guise, and on reactions to the
translation movement in the period leading up to Avicenna. In a
first section, Adamson provides general studies of the 'formative'
period of philosophy in the Islamic world, discussing the Arabic
reception of Aristotle and of his commentators. He also argues that
this formative period was characterized not just by the use of
Hellenic materials, but also by a productive exchange of ideas
between Greek-inspired 'philosophy (falsafa)' and Islamic theology
(kalAE m). A second section considers the underappreciated
philosophical impact of Galen, using Arabic sources to understand
Galen himself, and exploring the thought of the doctor and
philosopher al-RAE zAE", who drew on Galen as a chief inspiration.
A third section looks at al-FAE rAE bAE" and the so-called 'Baghdad
school' of the 10th century, examining their reaction to
Aristotle's Metaphysics, his epistemology, and his famous
deterministic 'sea battle' argument. A final group of papers is
devoted to Avicenna's philosophy, which marks the beginning of a
new era of philosophy in the Islamic world.
This book collects 15 papers on the greatest philosopher of late
antiquity and founder of Neoplatonism, Plotinus (d.270), and the
founding figure of philosophy in the Islamic world: al-KindAE" (d.
ca. 873). A number of the contributions focus on the text that
joins the two: the so-called Theology of Aristotle, in fact an
Arabic version of Plotinus' Enneads produced in al- KindAE"'s
translation circle. Across several papers, Adamson argues that this
translation is best understood as a reinterpretation of Plotinus
designed to appeal to contemporary readers in the culture of the
'AbbAEsid era. Two contributions also analyze the notes on the
Theology written by the great Avicenna. Other papers look at
aspects of al-KindAE"'s own thought, exploring his ideas concerning
metaphysics, free will astrology, and optics. The traditions of
Plotinus and al-KindAE" are also treated, with papers on Plotinus'
student Porphyry and his Arabic reception, and on followers of
al-KindAE". Adamson argues that we can identify what he calls a
'Kindian tradition' in the 9th-10th centuries. He discusses the
philosophical presuppositions of this movement, and the use of
al-KindAE"'s ideas made by one particular representative of the
Kindian tradition, the Persian thinker Miskawayh.
This book collects 15 papers on the greatest philosopher of late
antiquity and founder of Neoplatonism, Plotinus (d.270), and the
founding figure of philosophy in the Islamic world: al-KindAE" (d.
ca. 873). A number of the contributions focus on the text that
joins the two: the so-called Theology of Aristotle, in fact an
Arabic version of Plotinus' Enneads produced in al- KindAE"'s
translation circle. Across several papers, Adamson argues that this
translation is best understood as a reinterpretation of Plotinus
designed to appeal to contemporary readers in the culture of the
'AbbAE sid era. Two contributions also analyze the notes on the
Theology written by the great Avicenna. Other papers look at
aspects of al-KindAE"'s own thought, exploring his ideas concerning
metaphysics, free will astrology, and optics. The traditions of
Plotinus and al-KindAE" are also treated, with papers on Plotinus'
student Porphyry and his Arabic reception, and on followers of
al-KindAE". Adamson argues that we can identify what he calls a
'Kindian tradition' in the 9th-10th centuries. He discusses the
philosophical presuppositions of this movement, and the use of
al-KindAE"'s ideas made by one particular representative of the
Kindian tradition, the Persian thinker Miskawayh.
A much-maligned feature of ancient and medieval political thought
is its tendency to appeal to nature to establish norms for human
communities. From Aristotle's claim that humans are "political
animals" to Aquinas' invocation of "natural law," it may seem that
pre-modern philosophers were all too ready to assume that whatever
is natural is good, and that just political arrangements must
somehow be natural. The papers in this collection show that this
assumption is, at best, too crude. From very early, for instance in
the ancient sophists' contrast between nomos and physis, there was
recognition that political arrangements may be precisely
artificial, not natural, and it may be questioned whether even such
supposed naturalists as Aristotle in fact adopt the quick inference
from "natural" to "good." The papers in this volume trace the
complex interrelations between nature and such concepts as law,
legitimacy, and justice, covering a wide historical range
stretching from Plato and the Sophists to Aristotle, Hellenistic
philosophy, Cicero, the Neoplatonists Plotinus and Porphyry,
ancient Christian thinkers, and philosophers of both the Islamic
and Christian Middle Ages.
Peter Adamson explores the rich intellectual history of the
Byzantine Empire and the Italian Renaissance. Peter Adamson
presents an engaging and wide-ranging introduction to the thinkers
and movements of two great intellectual cultures: Byzantium and the
Italian Renaissance. First he traces the development of philosophy
in the Eastern Christian world, from such early figures as John of
Damascus in the eighth century to the late Byzantine scholars of
the fifteenth century. He introduces major figures like Michael
Psellos, Anna Komnene, and Gregory Palamas, and examines the
philosophical significance of such cultural phenomena as iconoclasm
and conceptions of gender. We discover the little-known traditions
of philosophy in Syriac, Armenian, and Georgian. These chapters
also explore the scientific, political, and historical literature
of Byzantium. There is a close connection to the second half of the
book, since thinkers of the Greek East helped to spark the humanist
movement in Italy. Adamson tells the story of the rebirth of
philosophy in Italy in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. We
encounter such famous names as Christine de Pizan, Niccolo
Machiavelli, Giordano Bruno, and Galileo, but as always in this
book series such major figures are read alongside contemporaries
who are not so well known, including such fascinating figures as
Lorenzo Valla, Girolamo Savonarola, and Bernardino Telesio. Major
historical themes include the humanist engagement with ancient
literature, the emergence of women humanists, the flowering of
Republican government in Renaissance Italy, the continuation of
Aristotelian and scholastic philosophy alongside humanism, and
breakthroughs in science. All areas of philosophy, from theories of
economics and aesthetics to accounts of the human mind, are
featured. This is the sixth volume of Adamson's History of
Philosophy Without Any Gaps, taking us to the threshold of the
early modern era.
A much-maligned feature of ancient and medieval political thought
is its tendency to appeal to nature to establish norms for human
communities. From Aristotle's claim that humans are "political
animals" to Aquinas' invocation of "natural law," it may seem that
pre-modern philosophers were all too ready to assume that whatever
is natural is good, and that just political arrangements must
somehow be natural. The papers in this collection show that this
assumption is, at best, too crude. From very early, for instance in
the ancient sophists' contrast between nomos and physis, there was
recognition that political arrangements may be precisely
artificial, not natural, and it may be questioned whether even such
supposed naturalists as Aristotle in fact adopt the quick inference
from "natural" to "good." The papers in this volume trace the
complex interrelations between nature and such concepts as law,
legitimacy, and justice, covering a wide historical range
stretching from Plato and the Sophists to Aristotle, Hellenistic
philosophy, Cicero, the Neoplatonists Plotinus and Porphyry,
ancient Christian thinkers, and philosophers of both the Islamic
and Christian Middle Ages.
This book brings together the study of two great disciplines of the
Islamic world: law and philosophy. In both sunni and shiite Islam,
it became the norm for scholars to acquire a high level of
expertise in the legal tradition. Thus some of the greatest names
in the history of Aristotelianism were trained jurists, like
Averroes, or commented on the status and nature of law, like
al-Farabi. While such authors sought to put law in its place
relative to the philosophical disciplines, others criticized
philosophy from a legal viewpoint, like al-Ghazali and Ibn
Taymiyya. But this collection of papers does not only explore the
relative standing of law and philosophy. It also looks at how
philosophers, theologians, and jurists answered philosophical
questions that arise from jurisprudence itself. What is the logical
structure of a well-formed legal argument? What standard of
certainty needs to be attained in passing down judgments, and how
is that standard reached? What are the sources of valid legal
judgment and what makes these sources authoritative? May a believer
be excused on grounds of ignorance? Together the contributions
provide an unprecedented demonstration of the close connections
between philosophy and law in Islamic society, while also
highlighting the philosophical interest of texts normally studied
only by legal historians.
Peter Adamson offers an accessible, humorous tour through a period
of eight hundred years when some of the most influential of all
schools of thought were formed: from the third century BC to the
sixth century AD. He introduces us to Cynics and Skeptics,
Epicureans and Stoics, emperors and slaves, and traces the
development of Christian and Jewish philosophy and of ancient
science. Chapters are devoted to such major figures as Epicurus,
Lucretius, Cicero, Seneca, Plotinus, and Augustine. But in keeping
with the motto of the series, the story is told 'without any gaps,'
providing an in-depth look at less familiar topics that remains
suitable for the general reader. For instance, there are chapters
on the fascinating but relatively obscure Cyrenaic philosophical
school, on pagan philosophical figures like Porphyry and
Iamblichus, and extensive coverage of the Greek and Latin Christian
Fathers who are at best peripheral in most surveys of ancient
philosophy. A major theme of the book is in fact the competition
between pagan and Christian philosophy in this period, and the
Jewish tradition also appears in the shape of Philo of Alexandria.
Ancient science is also considered, with chapters on ancient
medicine and the interaction between philosophy and astronomy.
Considerable attention is paid also to the wider historical
context, for instance by looking at the ascetic movement in
Christianity and how it drew on ideas from Hellenic philosophy.
From the counter-cultural witticisms of Diogenes the Cynic to the
subtle skepticism of Sextus Empiricus, from the irreverent atheism
of the Epicureans to the ambitious metaphysical speculation of
Neoplatonism, from the ethical teachings of Marcus Aurelius to the
political philosophy of Augustine, the book gathers together all
aspects of later ancient thought in an accessible and entertaining
way.
Peter Adamson and Jonardon Ganeri present a lively introduction to
one of the world's richest intellectual traditions: the philosophy
of classical India. They begin with the earliest extant literature,
the Vedas, and the explanatory works that these inspired, known as
Upanisads. They also discuss other famous texts of classical Vedic
culture, especially the Mahabharata and its most notable section,
the Bhagavad-Gita, alongside the rise of Buddhism and Jainism. In
this opening section, Adamson and Ganeri emphasize the way that
philosophy was practiced as a form of life in search of liberation
from suffering. Next, the pair move on to the explosion of
philosophical speculation devoted to foundational texts called
'sutras,' discussing such traditions as the logical and
epistemological Nyaya school, the monism of Advaita Vedanta, and
the spiritual discipline of Yoga. In the final section of the book,
they chart further developments within Buddhism, highlighting
Nagarjuna's radical critique of 'non-dependent' concepts and the
no-self philosophy of mind found in authors like Dignaga, and
within Jainism, focusing especially on its 'standpoint'
epistemology. Unlike other introductions that cover the main
schools and positions in classical Indian philosophy, Adamson and
Ganeri's lively guide also pays attention to philosophical themes
such as non-violence, political authority, and the status of women,
while considering textual traditions typically left out of
overviews of Indian thought, like the Carvaka school, Tantra, and
aesthetic theory as well. Adamson and Ganeri conclude by focusing
on the much-debated question of whether Indian philosophy may have
influenced ancient Greek philosophy and, from there, evaluate the
impact that this area of philosophy had on later Western thought.
Dr Michael Lowell-a mild-mannered American, unshakeably decent and
at the top of his profession-accepts an invitation to a weekend
reunion of Oxford college friends. He is looking forward to meeting
some of them-including front-line Canadian medic Helene Hevre and
the Australian advertising genius Toby Jenks. But the big
attraction is the serene young woman from Karachi who rejected him
twenty years ago because he was `just a little bit too dull'. As
the weekend gets under way and old loves and tensions arise, an
audacious suggestion is made. It begins as a joke. But it is a joke
that none of them can forget. Moving between Oxford, New York,
Washington, Geneva and Abidjan, this compelling political thriller
is the story of five ordinary people who find themselves drawn into
an extraordinary conspiracy-a gamble that could force the hand of
governments and affect the lives of millions. But if it should go
wrong, the risk to their own lives is incalculable.
Peter Adamson presents a lively introduction to six hundred years
of European philosophy, from the beginning of the ninth century to
the end of the fourteenth century. The medieval period is one of
the richest in the history of philosophy, yet one of the least
widely known. Adamson introduces us to some of the greatest
thinkers of the Western intellectual tradition, including Peter
Abelard, Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus,
William of Ockham, and Roger Bacon. And the medieval period was
notable for the emergence of great women thinkers, including
Hildegard of Bingen, Marguerite Porete, and Julian of Norwich.
Original ideas and arguments were developed in every branch of
philosophy during this period - not just philosophy of religion and
theology, but metaphysics, philosophy of logic and language, moral
and political theory, psychology, and the foundations of
mathematics and natural science.
How do we judge whether we should be willing to follow the views of
experts or whether we ought to try to come to our own, independent
views? This book seeks the answer in medieval philosophical
thought. In this engaging study into the history of philosophy and
epistemology, Peter Adamson provides an answer to a question as
relevant today as it was in the medieval period: how and when
should we turn to the authoritative expertise of other people in
forming our own beliefs? He challenges us to reconsider our
approach to this question through a constructive recovery of the
intellectual and cultural traditions of the Islamic world, the
Byzantine Empire, and Latin Christendom. Adamson begins by
foregrounding the distinction in Islamic philosophy between
taqlīd, or the uncritical acceptance of authority, and ijtihād,
or judgment based on independent effort, the latter of which was
particularly prized in Islamic law, theology, and philosophy during
the medieval period. He then demonstrates how the Islamic tradition
paves the way for the development of what he calls a “justified
taqlīd,” according to which one develops the skills necessary to
critically and selectively follow an authority based on their
reliability. The book proceeds to reconfigure our understanding of
the relation between authority and independent thought in the
medieval world by illuminating how women found spaces to assert
their own intellectual authority, how medieval writers evaluated
the authoritative status of Plato and Aristotle, and how
independent reasoning was deployed to defend one Abrahamic faith
against the other. This clear and eloquently written book will
interest scholars in and enthusiasts of medieval philosophy,
Islamic studies, Byzantine studies, and the history of thought.
Classical Philosophy is the first of a series of books in which
Peter Adamson aims ultimately to present a complete history of
philosophy, more thoroughly but also more enjoyably than ever
before. In short, lively chapters, based on the popular History of
Philosophy podcast, he offers an accessible, humorous, and detailed
look at the emergence of philosophy with the Presocratics, the
probing questions of Socrates, and the first full flowering of
philosophy with the dialogues of Plato and the treatises of
Aristotle. The story is told 'without any gaps', discussing not
only such major figures but also less commonly discussed topics
like the Hippocratic Corpus, the Platonic Academy, and the role of
women in ancient philosophy. Within the thought of Plato and
Aristotle, the reader will find in-depth introductions to major
works, such as the Republic and the Nicomachean Ethics, which are
treated in detail that is unusual in an introduction to ancient
philosophy. Adamson looks at fascinating but less frequently read
Platonic dialogues like the Charmides and Cratylus, and Aristotle's
ideas in zoology and poetics. This full coverage allows him to
tackle ancient discussions in all areas of philosophy, including
epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language, philosophy of
science, ethics and politics. Attention is also given to the
historical and literary context of classical philosophy, with
exploration of how early Greek cosmology responded to the poets
Homer and Hesiod, how Socrates was presented by the comic
playwright Aristophanes and the historian Xenophon, and how events
in Greek history may have influenced Plato's thought. This is a new
kind of history which will bring philosophy to life for all
readers, including those coming to the subject for the first time.
Peter Adamson presents a lively introduction to six hundred years
of European philosophy, from the beginning of the ninth century to
the end of the fourteenth century. The medieval period is one of
the richest in the history of philosophy, yet one of the least
widely known. Adamson introduces us to some of the greatest
thinkers of the Western intellectual tradition, including Peter
Abelard, Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus,
William of Ockham, and Roger Bacon. And the medieval period was
notable for the emergence of great women thinkers, including
Hildegard of Bingen, Marguerite Porete, and Julian of Norwich.
Original ideas and arguments were developed in every branch of
philosophy during this period - not just philosophy of religion and
theology, but metaphysics, philosophy of logic and language, moral
and political theory, psychology, and the foundations of
mathematics and natural science.
Dr Michael Lowell - a mild-mannered American, unshakeably decent
and at the peak of his profession - is intrigued by Stephen Walsh's
invitation to a reunion of Oxford college friends. At least he'll
be able to catch up with cynical advertising genius Toby Jenks and
frontline medic H l ne Hevr , comparing notes on mid-life
frustrations and old ideals. He'll also have to face Seema Mir, the
serene young woman from Karachi who rejected him twenty years ago
because he was 'just a little bit too dull'. He expects a congenial
weekend; instead they seed a conspiracy that could rock the
foundations of the US government. Moving between Oxford, New York,
Washington, Geneva and Abidjan, this compelling political thriller
is the story of five people possessed by an extraordinary idea.
Theirs is an 'unthinkable' plan to save the lives of millions. But
the risk is to their own lives is incalculable.
Avicenna is the greatest philosopher of the Islamic world. His
immense impact on Christian and Jewish medieval thought, as well as
on the subsequent Islamic tradition, is charted in this volume
alongside studies which provide a comprehensive introduction to and
analysis of his philosophy. Contributions from leading scholars
address a wide range of topics including Avicenna's life and works,
conception of philosophy and achievement in logic and medicine. His
ideas in the main areas of philosophy, such as epistemology,
philosophy of religion and physics, are also analyzed. While
serving as a general introduction to Avicenna's thought, this
collection of critical essays also represents the cutting edge of
scholarship on this most influential philosopher of the medieval
era.
Classical Philosophy is the first of a series of books in which
Peter Adamson aims ultimately to present a complete history of
philosophy, more thoroughly but also more enjoyably than ever
before. In short, lively chapters, based on the popular History of
Philosophy podcast, he offers an accessible, humorous, and detailed
look at the emergence of philosophy with the Presocratics, the
probing questions of Socrates, and the first full flowering of
philosophy with the dialogues of Plato and the treatises of
Aristotle. The story is told "without any gaps," discussing not
only such major figures but also less commonly discussed topics
like the Hippocratic Corpus, the Platonic Academy, and the role of
women in ancient philosophy. Within the thought of Plato and
Aristotle, the reader will find in-depth introductions to major
works, such as the Republic and the Nicomachean Ethics, which are
treated in detail that is unusual in an introduction to ancient
philosophy. Adamson looks at fascinating but less frequently read
Platonic dialogues like the Charmides and Cratylus, and Aristotle's
ideas in zoology and poetics. This full coverage allows him to
tackle ancient discussions in all areas of philosophy, including
epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language, philosophy of
science, ethics and politics. Attention is also given to the
historical and literary context of classical philosophy, with
exploration of how early Greek cosmology responded to the poets
Homer and Hesiod, how Socrates was presented by the comic
playwright Aristophanes and the historian Xenophon, and how events
in Greek history may have influenced Plato's thought. This is a new
kind of history which will bring philosophy to life for all
readers, including those coming to the subject for the first time.
This book introduces readers to Abu Bakr al-Razi (known in Latin as
Rhazes), one of the most innovative and divisive figures of the
early philosophical tradition in the Islamic world. Drawing on his
extant works on ethics and a range of quotations and testimony from
often hostile medieval authors, Adamson reconstructs Razi's
cosmological system, which posits four principles alongside God for
the making of the universe: Soul, Matter, Time, and Place. Adamson
argues that this system is fundamentally based on Plato, while it
accepts Aristotle's physics as a "relative" or superficial
description of the universe. This notorious theory of the "five
eternals" led to charges of heresy. But through an examination of
his debates with contemporary Islamic theologians and
representatives of Ismaili Shiism, Adamson shows that Razi's ideas
about religion and prophecy may have been distorted by intellectual
opponents. Razi's scientific contributions are also considered in
depth. One chapter is devoted to the philosophically rewarding
aspects of Razi's extensive writings on medicine. His ideas about
alchemy are also discussed along with his atomist account of
matter. The final chapter looks at Razi's views on ethics, and
argues against a prominent interpretation of him as a hedonist
inspired by Epicureanism. The book presupposes no prior knowledge
of Razi or specialist knowledge of this period in the history of
philosophy. It will be rewarding for anyone with an interest in the
reception of Greek philosophy, especially Plato, in the history of
medicine, or of medieval philosophy more generally.
Albert Otter didn't fit in with his family or his schoolmates, he
had no talent at pole-vaulting or arithmetic, and he was so bad at
playing the piano that his music teacher was hospitalized. Then
something happened that changed Albert's life forever. "Otterly
excellent " -- Jolisa Gracewood, New Zealand Reviewer of the Year
2006 Praise for other books by the same author: "Hugely
enjoyable... terribly, terribly funny." -- Kim Hill, Radio New
Zealand "Dazzlingly funny." -- Steve Braunias, Sunday Star Times
Magazine
Philosophical controversy over non-human animals extends further
back than many realize - before Utilitarianism and Darwinism to the
very genesis of philosophy. This volume examines the richness and
complexity of that long history. Twelve essays trace the
significance of animals from Greek and Indian antiquity through the
Islamic and Latin medieval traditions, to Renaissance and early
modern thought, ending with contemporary notions about animals. Two
main questions emerge throughout the volume: what capacities can be
ascribed to animals, and how should we treat them? Notoriously
ungenerous attitudes towards animals' mental lives and ethics
status, found for instance in Aristotle and Descartes, are shown to
have been more nuanced than often supposed, while remarkable
defenses of benevolence towards animals are unearthed in late
antiquity, India, the Islamic world, and Kant. Other chapters
examine cannibalism and vegetarianism in Renaissance thought, and
the scientific testing of animals. A series of interdisciplinary
reflections sheds further light on human attitudes towards animals,
looking at their depiction in visual artworks from China, Africa,
and Europe, as well as the rich tradition of animal fables
beginning with Aesop.
The latest in the series based on the popular History of Philosophy
podcast, this volume presents the first full history of philosophy
in the Islamic world for a broad readership. It takes an approach
unprecedented among introductions to this subject, by providing
full coverage of Jewish and Christian thinkers as well as Muslims,
and by taking the story of philosophy from its beginnings in the
world of early Islam all the way through to the twentieth century.
Major figures like Avicenna, Averroes, and Maimonides are covered
in great detail, but the book also looks at less familiar thinkers,
including women philosophers. Attention is also given to the
philosophical relevance of Islamic theology (kalam) and
mysticism-the Sufi tradition within Islam, and Kabbalah among
Jews-and to science, with chapters on disciplines like optics and
astronomy. The book is divided into three sections, with the first
looking at the first blossoming of Islamic theology and responses
to the Greek philosophical tradition in the world of Arabic
learning. This 'formative period' culminates with the work of
Avicenna, the pivotal figure to whom most later thinkers feel they
must respond. The second part of the book discusses philosophy in
Muslim Spain (Andalusia), where Jewish philosophers come to the
fore, though this is also the setting for such thinkers as Averroes
and Ibn Arabi. Finally, a third section looks in unusual detail at
later developments, touching on philosophy in the Ottoman, Mughal,
and Safavid empires and showing how thinkers in the nineteenth to
the twentieth century were still concerned to respond to the ideas
that had animated philosophy in the Islamic world for centuries,
while also responding to political and intellectual challenges from
the European colonial powers.
In the history of philosophy, few topics are so relevant to today's
cultural and political landscape as philosophy in the Islamic
world. Yet, this remains one of the lesser-known philosophical
traditions. In this Very Short Introduction, Peter Adamson explores
the history of philosophy among Muslims, Jews, and Christians
living in Islamic lands, from its historical background to thinkers
in the twentieth century. Introducing the main philosophical themes
of the Islamic world, Adamson integrates ideas from the Islamic and
Abrahamic faiths to consider the broad philosophical questions that
continue to invite debate: What is the relationship between reason
and religious belief? What is the possibility of proving God's
existence? What is the nature of knowledge? Drawing on the most
recent research in the field, this book challenges the assumption
of the cultural decline of philosophy and science in the Islamic
world by demonstrating its rich heritage and overlap with other
faiths and philosophies.
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