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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 (kalÄ?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-RÄ?zÄ, who drew on Galen as a chief inspiration. A third section looks at al-FÄ?rÄ?bÄ 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.
List of contents
RECEPTION OF GREEK PHILOSOPHY, I Arabic philosophy and theology before Avicenna II Aristotle in the Arabic commentary tradition III The last philosophers of late antiquity in the Arabic tradition GALEN AND AL-RAZI IV Galen and al-Razi on time V Galen on void VI Platonic pleasures in Epicurus and al-RazT VII Abu Bakr al-Razi on animals THE BAGHDAD SCHOOL VIII The Arabic sea battle: al-Farabi on the problem of future contingents IX Knowledge of universals and particulars in the Baghdad school X Yal;iya ibn 'AdI and Averroes on Metaphysics Alpha Elatton XI On knowledge of particulars XII Avicenna and his commentators on human and divine self-intellection XIII From the necessary existent to God
About the author
Peter Adamson is Professor for Late Antique and Arabic Philosophy at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Germany.
Summary
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 (kalÄm). 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-RÄzÄ«, who drew on Galen as a chief inspiration. A third section looks at al-FÄrÄbÄ« 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.
