Philosophy in the Islamic World A history of philosophy without any gaps, Volume 3

by Adamson, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780199577491
• ISBN10: 0199577498
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780191084850
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2016-10-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• More Book Details
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Summary

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.

Author Biography

Peter Adamson, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen

Peter Adamson took his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame and first worked at King's College London. In 2012 he moved to the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, where he is Professor of Late Ancient and Arabic Philosophy. He has published widely in ancient and medieval philosophy, especially on Neoplatonism and on philosophy in the Islamic world.

Table of Contents

Part I: The Formative Period
1. The Straight Path: Philosophy and Islam
2. All for One: The Mu'tazilites
3. Founded in Translation: From Greek to Syriac to Arabic
4. Philosopher of the Arabs - al-Kindî
5. The Chosen Ones: Philosophy and Judaism
6. Reasoned Belief: Saadia Gaon
7. High Five - al-Râzî
8. Aristotelian Society: the Baghdad School
9. The Second Master: al-Fârâbî
10. State of Mind: al-Fârâbî's Political Philosophy
11. Eye of the Beholder: Theories of Vision
12. Strings Attached: Music and Philosophy
13. Balancing Acts: Arabic Ethical Literature
14. Undercover Brothers: Philosophy in the Buyid Age
15. God Willing: the Ash'arites
16. The Self-Made Man: Avicenna's Life and Works
17. By the Time I Get to Phoenix: Avicenna on Existence
18. By All Means Necessary: Avicenna on God
19. Into Thin Air: Avicenna on the Soul
20. Special Delivery: al-Ghazâlî
21. Miracle Worker: al-Ghazâlî Against the Philosophers
Part II: Andalusia
22. Philosophy's Reign in Spain: Andalusia
23. Laying Down the Law: Ibn Hazm and Islamic Legal Theory
24. Fantasy Island: Ibn Bâjja and Ibn Tufayl
25. Back to Basics: Averroes on Reason and Religion
26. Single Minded: Averroes on the Intellect
27. A Matter of Taste: Ibn 'Arabî and Mysticism
28. Team Spirit: Ibn Khaldûn
29. Living in a Material World: Ibn Gabirol
30. Defender of the Faith: Judah Halevi
31. Born Under a Bad Sign: Freedom and Astrology in Jewish Philosophy
32. From the Heart: Ethics in Jewish Philosophy
33. The Great Eagle: Maimonides
34. He Moves in Mysterious Ways: Maimonides on Eternity
35. Burnt Offerings: the Maimonides Controversy
36. Man and Superman: Gersonides and the Jewish Reception of Averroes
37. Neither the Time nor the Place: Hasdai Crescas
38. When Bad Things Happen to Good People: Suffering in Jewish Philosophy
39. Chariot of Fire: Kabbalah
40. A Matter of Principles: Albo and Abravanel
Part III: The Later Traditions
41. Golden Ages: The Later Traditions
42. All Things Considered: Abû l-Barakât al-Baghdâdî
43. For the Sake of Argument: Fakhr al-Din al-Râzî
44. Let There Be Light: Suhrawardî
45. Bright Ideas: Illuminationism
46. A Man for All Seasons: Nasîr al-Dîn al-Tûsî
47. To Be or Not to Be: Debating Avicenna's Metaphysics
48. Eyes Wide Shut: Rûmî and Philosophical Sufism
49. Proof Positive: The Logical Tradition
50. By the Book: Ibn Taymiyya
51. Aftermath: Philosophy and Science in the Mongol Age
52. Family Feud: Philosophy at Shîrâz
53. Follow the Leader: Philosophy under the Safavids
54. To Be, Continued: Mullâ Sadâ on Existence
55. Return to Sender: Mullâ Sadâ on Motion and Knowledge
56. Subcontinental Drift: Philosophy in Islamic India
57. Turkish Delights: Philosophy in the Ottoman Empire
58. Blind Alley: Taqlîd, Sufism, and Philosophy
59. The Young Ones: Encounters with European Thought
60. The Stronger Sex: Women Scholars in the Islamic World
61. All for One and One for All: Muhammad 'Abduh and Muhammad Iqbâl
62. Iran So Far: The Heirs of Mullâ Sadâ