An Anthology of Philosophy in Persia, Volume 3: Philosophical Theology in the Middle Ages and Beyond: An Anthology of Philosophy in Persia, Vol. 3

The tradition of philosophy in the Persian-speaking world is extraordinarily rich, creative and diverse. This anthology, which is divided into three volumes, aims to communicate something of that richness and diversity. The term'philosophy'is understood to in its widest sense to include theological debate, philosophical Sufism and philosophical hermeneutics (ta'wil). Extending over a period of more than two millennia, and showcasing translations by well-established scholars, the anthology offers full bibliographical references throughout. For anyone interested in exploring, in all their varied manifestations, the fascinating philosophical traditions of Persia, such a wide-ranging and ambitious work will be an indispensable resource. Contents......Page 10 List of Reprinted Works......Page 14 Note on Transliteration......Page 16 List of Contributors......Page 18 General Introduction S.H Nasr......Page 20 Introductory Analysis M. Aminrazavi......Page 33 PART I. Mu'tazilism......Page 38 Introduction S.H Nasr......Page 40 Introduction S.H Nasr......Page 43 Selections (from Madhāhib al-Islāmiyyīn)......Page 45 Introduction S.H Nasr......Page 50 Selections (from Madhāhib al-Islāmiyyīn)......Page 52 Introduction M. Aminrazavi......Page 57 The Book that Makes Others Superfluous (from al-Mughnī fi'l-abwāb al-tawhīd wa'l-'adl)......Page 59 PART II. LATER SUNNI THEOLOGICAL THOUGHT......Page 72 Introduction S.H Nasr......Page 74 Introduction M. Aminrazavi......Page 77 The Book of Guidance (from Kitāb al-irshād)......Page 80 Introduction S.H Nasr......Page 103 The Incoherence of the Philosophers (from Tahāfut al-falāsifah)......Page 107 The Just Mean in Belief (from al-Iqtisād fi'l-i'tiqād)......Page 132 The Book of Knowledge (from Ihyā' 'ulūm al-dīn)......Page 148 Introduction M. Aminrazavi......Page 156 The Summa Philosophiae (from Nihāyat al-iqdām fī 'ilm al kalām......Page 158 Introduction M. Aminrazavi......Page 204 Commentary on the Book of Directives and Remarks (from Sharh al-ishārāt)......Page 208 Oriental Discourses (from al-Mabāhith al-mashriqiyyah)......Page 222 The Soul, Spirit and Elaboration of their Faculties (from al-Nafs wa'l-rūh wa sharh quwāhumā)......Page 248 Introduction M. Aminrazavi......Page 268 The Book of Stations in the Science of Theology (from al-Mawāqif fī 'ilm al-kalām)......Page 270 Introduction M. Aminrazavi......Page 304 Commentary on the Stations in Theology (Sharh al-mawāqif)......Page 306 Treatise on Existence (from Risālat al-wujūd)......Page 323 Introduction M. Aminrazavi......Page 331 Commentary on the Purposes of the Science of Theology (from Sharh al-maqāsid fī 'ilm al-kalām)......Page 333 A Commentary on the Principles of Islam (from Fī usūl al-Islām)......Page 356 PART III. SH'I PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY......Page 384 Introduction S.H Nasr......Page 386 Introduction S.H Nasr......Page 390 The Book of Catharsis (from Tajrīd al-i'tiqād)......Page 392 Introduction M. Aminrazavi......Page 415 Commentary on the Book of Catharsis (from Sharh al-tajrīd)......Page 417 Introduction M. Aminrazavi......Page 450 The Delight of the Eyes (from Qurrat al-'uyūn)......Page 452 Select Bibliography......Page 476 Index......Page 483 Contents 10 List of Reprinted Works 14 Note on Transliteration 16 List of Contributors 18 General Introduction S.H Nasr 20 Introductory Analysis M. Aminrazavi 33 PART I. Mu'tazilism 38 Introduction S.H Nasr 40 1. Abu'l-Hudhayl al-'Allāf 43 Introduction S.H Nasr 43 Selections (from Madhāhib al-Islāmiyyīn) 45 2. Ibrāhīm al-Nazzām 50 Introduction S.H Nasr 50 Selections (from Madhāhib al-Islāmiyyīn) 52 3. Qādī 'Abd al-Jabbār 57 Introduction M. Aminrazavi 57 The Book that Makes Others Superfluous (from al-Mughnī fi'l-abwāb al-tawhīd wa'l-'adl) 59 PART II. LATER SUNNI THEOLOGICAL THOUGHT 72 Introduction S.H Nasr 74 1. Imam al-Haramayn Juwaynī 77 Introduction M. Aminrazavi 77 The Book of Guidance (from Kitāb al-irshād) 80 2. Abū Hāmid Muhammad Ghazzālī 103 Introduction S.H Nasr 103 The Incoherence of the Philosophers (from Tahāfut al-falāsifah) 107 The Just Mean in Belief (from al-Iqtisād fi'l-i'tiqād) 132 The Book of Knowledge (from Ihyā' 'ulūm al-dīn) 148 3. Muhammad Shahrastānī 156 Introduction M. Aminrazavi 156 The Summa Philosophiae (from Nihāyat al-iqdām fī 'ilm al kalām 158 4. Fakhr al-Dīn Rāzī 204 Introduction M. Aminrazavi 204 Commentary on the Book of Directives and Remarks (from Sharh al-ishārāt) 208 Oriental Discourses (from al-Mabāhith al-mashriqiyyah) 222 The Soul, Spirit and Elaboration of their Faculties (from al-Nafs wa'l-rūh wa sharh quwāhumā) 248 5. 'Adud al-Din Ijī 268 Introduction M. Aminrazavi 268 The Book of Stations in the Science of Theology (from al-Mawāqif fī 'ilm al-kalām) 270 6. Mīr Sayyid Sharīf Jurjānī 304 Introduction M. Aminrazavi 304 Commentary on the Stations in Theology (Sharh al-mawāqif) 306 Treatise on Existence (from Risālat al-wujūd) 323 7. Sa'd al-Dīn Taftāzānī 331 Introduction M. Aminrazavi 331 Commentary on the Purposes of the Science of Theology (from Sharh al-maqāsid fī 'ilm al-kalām) 333 A Commentary on the Principles of Islam (from Fī usūl al-Islām) 356 PART III. SH'I PHILOSOPHICAL THEOLOGY 384 Introduction S.H Nasr 386 1. Nasīr al-Dīn Tūsī 390 Introduction S.H Nasr 390 The Book of Catharsis (from Tajrīd al-i'tiqād) 392 2. 'Allāmah Hillī 415 Introduction M. Aminrazavi 415 Commentary on the Book of Catharsis (from Sharh al-tajrīd) 417 3. Muhammad Mahdī Narāqī 450 Introduction M. Aminrazavi 450 The Delight of the Eyes (from Qurrat al-'uyūn) 452 Select Bibliography 476 Index 483 1845116054,9781845116057 I. B. Tauris "The tradition of philosophy in the Persian-speaking world is extraordinarily rich, creative and diverse. This anthology, which is divided into three volumes, aims to communicate something of that richness and diversity.The term 'philosophy' is understood to in its widest sense to include theological debate, philosophical Sufism and philosophical hermeneutics (ta'wil). Extending over a period of more than two millennia, and showcasing translations by well-established scholars, the anthology offers full bibliographical references throughout. For anyone interested in exploring, in all their varied manifestations, the fascinating philosophical traditions of Persia, such a wide-ranging and ambitious work will be an indispensable resource."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Persia is home to one of the few civilizations in the world that has had a continuous tradition of philosophical thought for over two and a half millennia. As Islamic theology developed in the Middle Ages, many of its schools interacted with existing Persian philosophical currents and evolved into a distinctive philosophical 'Kalam', or dogmatic theology. Among the definitive masters of both Shi'i and Sunni theologians were numerous Persians, chief among them Al-Ghazzali and Fakhr al-Din Al-Razi, who are prominently represented here. Important selections from both Shi'i and Sunni theological schools (including Mu'tazila and Ash'ariyya) are included in the volume, many of which have never before been available in translation in the West until now. This is the second volume in a projected five-volume work covering the full expanse of Persian philosophical thought from the Zoroastrianism of the pre-Christian era up to the present day. Volume II is devoted entirely to the work of the Isma'ili and Hermetic-Pythagorean philosophers