Books of Definition in Islamic Philosophy : The Limits of Words

The first section of this book surveys the development of Islamic philosophy though an examination of the definitions for substance, cause and matter. These important philosophical terms were defined by each new generation of philosophers. The definitions show an awareness of Greek philosophy, but also take metaphysical thought into an Islamic matrix. In the second section the author translates Ibn Sina's Kitab al-hudud (Book of Definition) and puts the tenth-century philosopher in his proper geopolitical sphere. Questions of Ibn Sina' connection with the East as well as medieval scholastic philosophy are considered. Teaching Islamic philosophy outside of the Arabic-speaking world has been handicapped by a lack of primary texts in translation and studies of basic concepts. This book makes the foundation of this field more accessible to students and a general readership. By translating this little-known but pivotal text into readable English, Kennedy-Day has opened a door for a wider range of readers. Islamic Philosophy has unusual origins. Originally a hybrid of Greek philosophy and early Islamic theology, its technical language consisted of a number of words translated from the Greek. This book studies how Islamic philosophers of the ninth century AD, such as al-Kindi, al-Farabi and Ibn Sina, developed an indigenous set of terms and concepts. Their Books of Definition influenced the revision of the Arabic language to incorporate these new fields of knowledge.
Books of Definition in Islamic Philosophy: The Limits of Words uses the work of these philosophers as a basis from which a comparison with their Greek precedents is enabled. The book presents a framework for incorporating an Islamic and historically contextualised philosophy into a continuum of world philosophers. At the core of this framework is Ibn Sina's Kitab al-hudud which the author has translated into English and situates it in its correct geopolitical framework. In establishing a historical and literary context for the writing and circulation of Ibn Sina's definitions, the book breaks new ground in the integration of Islamic philosophy within a general history of philosophies.
This fascinating and comprehensive study will be of interest to scholars and postgraduate students of Islamic Philosophy. "Books of Definition in Islamic Philosophy presents a framework for incorporating an Islamic and historically contextualized philosophy into a continuum of world philosophies. At the core of this framework is Ibn Sina's Kitab al-hudud, which the author has translated into English, and it is situated in its correct geopolitical framework. In establishing a historical and literary context for the writing and circulation of Ibn Sina's Definitions, this book breaks new ground in the integration of Islamic philosophy within a general history of philosophies." "This fascinating and comprehensive study will be of interest to scholars and postgraduate students of Islamic philosophy. By offering an English translation of Kitab al-hudud, Kennedy-Day also opens the door to a wider range of readers."--Jacket Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 10 List of abbreviations......Page 12 Map The Abbasid Caliphate......Page 14 Introduction......Page 16 Definitions of the philosophers......Page 22 What is a definition?......Page 24 Al-Kindi: the first Arabic Book of Definitions......Page 34 Al-Farabi: the emergence of Arabicized Greek logic......Page 47 Ibn Sina: the second Book of Definitions......Page 62 Comparison of vocabulary......Page 76 Ibn Sina's Book of Definitions......Page 100 The socio-political milieu of Ibn Sina......Page 102 Translation: The Book of Definitions......Page 113 Commentary......Page 130 Appendix......Page 175 Notes......Page 182 Bibliography......Page 206 Index......Page 213