Islamic Thought in the Dialogue of Cultures: A Historical and Bibliographical Survey (Themes in Islamic Studies)

Hans Daiber, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main Islamic thought is the most beautiful result of a multicultural dialogue. Islamic culture became a bridge between antiquity, Iranian scholars, Syriac and Arabic Christians and the Latin Middle Ages. Its richness of ideas, its plurality of values can contribute to the requirements of modern plurality. The monograph aims at a historical and bibliographical survey of the qurʾānic and rational world-view of early Islam, of the period of translations from Greek into Syriac and Arabic, and of the impact of Islamic thought on the Latin Middle Ages. Critical reflexions of Muslim scholars stimulated new scientific ideas and make us aware of the contribution of Islam to humanity. Biographical note Hans Daiber, Ph. D. (1968) in Oriental Studies, University of Saarbrücken, was professor of Oriental Studies in Amsterdam (1977-1995) and Frankfurt (1995-2010). He has published on Greek-Syriac-Arabic-Latin translations, on Arabic manuscripts and literature, on Islamic philosophy, theology and history of sciences. Readership Institutes, academic libraries, public libraries, specialists, students, educated laymen, etc. - A reference book for those interested in intellectual history, the history of Late Antiquity, classical philologists, theologians, Syrologists, Arabists and specialists of medieval philosophy. Contents 5 Abbreviations 9 Introduction 13 Chapter One The Qur'ānic Background of Rationalism in Early Islam 17 Chapter Two Theocracy versus Individuality: The Dispute on Man’s Free Will and its Impact on a New Rational World-View in the 8th/9th Century 33 Chapter Three The Encounter of Islamic Rationalism with Greek Culture: The Translation Period and its Role in the Development of Islamic Philosophy 55 3.1. Motives and Principles for the Selection of Translations from Greek into Arabic 55 3.2. The Syriac Share in the Early Greek-Arabic Translations 56 3.3. The Iranian Share and the Role of the Nestorians in the Translation Movement 60 3.4. Ways of Transmission of Greek Sciences to the Arabs: From Alexandria to Baghdad 61 3.5. Themes of Early Arabic Translations 64 3.6. Ḥunayn Ibn Isḥāq and his “School” 66 3.7. Qustạ̄ Ibn Lūqā 67 3.8. Greek Natural Philosophy and Islamic World-View. The Role of Aristotelian and Neoplatonic Philosophy 68 3.9. From Translation to Commentary and the Role of the Alexandrian School 71 Chapter Four The Autonomy of Philosophy in Islam 77 Chapter Five The Encounter of Islamic Philosophy with European Thought: Latin Translations and Translators of Arabic Philosophical Texts and their Importance for Medieval European Philosophy. Survey and State of the Art 101 5.1. Introduction 101 5.2. Indispensable Research Material 103 5.3. The Arabic Aristotle in the Middle Ages 106 5.3.1. Aristoteles Arabico-Latinus 106 5.3.2. Aristoteles Semitico-Latinus 107 5.3.3. Arabic-Islamic Determinants of the Picture of Aristotle in the Middle Ages 113 5.4. Qusṭā Ibn Lūqā in Latin Transmission 114 5.5. Liber de causis 115 5.6. The Arabic-Latin Alexander of Aphrodisias 119 5.7. Other Channels of Philosophy from Islam to Europe 121 5.8. The Latin Transmission of Kindī 124 5.9. The Latin Transmission of Fārābī 126 5.10. Ibn Sīnā in the Latin Middle Ages 130 5.10.1. The Latin Transmission of Ibn Sīnā 130 5.10.2. “Avicennism” 134 5.11. Ghazālī in the Latin Middle Ages 144 5.11.1. The Latin Transmission of Ghazālī 144 5.11.2. Ramon Llull 148 5.12. Ibn Rushd in the Latin Middle Ages 150 5.12.1. The Latin Transmission of Ibn Rushd 150 5.12.2. “Averroism” 155 5.12.3. Critique of “Averroism” and Trends of Research 170 Chapter Six Assimilation of Islamic Philosophical Thought and Dissociation in the Latin Middle Ages 179 6.1. The Arabic-Latin Translations as Mediator of the Cultural Heritage of Islam 179 6.2. A Pioneer of Alexandrian Exegesis of Aristotle: al-Kindī, the “Philosopher of the Arabs” 180 6.3. An Interlude: The Peripatetic Fārābī 182 6.4. The Consolidation of Philosophical Doctrines about God, Soul and Intellect: The Contribution of Ibn Sīnā 184 6.5. The Islamic Criticism of Philosophy: the Example of Ghazālī 189 6.6. Ibn Rushd’s Return to the “Pure Aristotle” 191 6.7. Latin “Averroism”? 197 6.8. The Role of Islamic Philosophizing in the Middle Ages 199 Chapter Seven Islamic Roots of Knowledge in Europe 203 Chapter Eight Manifestations of Islamic Thought in an Intertwined World: Past and Future Tasks of their Study 227 Bibliography 245 Index of Names and Subjects 257 Index of Ancient and Medieval Titles 269 Index of Terms 275 Index of Modern Authors 278 Islamic Thought Is The Most Beautiful Result Of A Multicultural Dialogue. Islamic Culture Became A Bridge Between Antiquity, Iranian Scholars, Syriac And Arabic Christians And The Latin Middle Ages. Its Richness Of Ideas, Its Plurality Of Values Can Contribute To The Requirements Of Modern Plurality. The Monograph Aims At A Historical And Bibliographical Survey Of The Qur{u02be}ānic And Rational World-view Of Early Islam, Of The Period Of Translations From Greek Into Syriac And Arabic, And Of The Impact Of Islamic Thought On The Latin Middle Ages. Critical Reflexions Of Muslim Scholars Stimulated New Scientific Ideas And Make Us Aware Of The Contribution Of Islam To Humanity. -- From Publisher's Website. 1. The Qur{u02be}ānic Background Of Rationalism In Early Islam -- 2. Theocracy Versus Individuality: The Dispute On Man{u2019}s Free Will And Its Impact On A New Rational World-view In The 8th/9th Century -- 3. The Encounter Of Islamic Rationalism With Greek Culture: The Translation Period And Its Role In The Development Of Islamic Philosophy -- 4. The Autonomy Of Philosophy In Islam -- 5. The Encounter Of Islamic Philosophy With European Thought: Latin Translations And Translators Of Arabic Philosophical Texts And Their Importance For Medieval European Philosophy. Survey And State Of The Art -- 6. Assimilation Of Islamic Philosophical Thought And Dissociation In The Latin Middle Ages: The Medieval European View Of Islamic Philosophy As An Example Of Dialogue And Misunderstanding -- 7. Islamic Roots Of Knowledge In Europe -- 8. Manifestations Of Islamic Thought In An Intertwined World: Past And Future Tasks Of Their Study. By Hans Daiber. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [233]-244) And Index. Table of contents Introduction 1. The Qurʾānic Background of Rationalism in Early Islam 2. Theocracy Versus Individuality: The Dispute on Man’s Free Will and its Impact on a New Rational World-View in the 8th/9th Century 3. The Encounter of Islamic Rationalism with Greek Culture: The Translation Period and its Role in the Development of Islamic Philosophy 4. The Autonomy of Philosophy in Islam 5. The Encounter of Islamic Philosophy with European Thought: Latin Translations and Translators of Arabic Philosophical Texts and their Importance for Medieval European Philosophy. Survey and State of the Art 6. Assimilation of Islamic Philosophical Thought and Dissociation in the Latin Middle Ages: The Medieval European View of Islamic Philosophy as an Example of Dialogue and Misunderstanding 7. Islamic Roots of Knowledge in Europe 8. Manifestations of Islamic Thought in an Intertwined World: past and future tasks of their study Bibliography Abbreviations Index of Persons Index of Themes and Topics Index of Terms Index of Modern Authors The monograph aims at a historical and bibliographical survey of the qur'anic and rational world-view of early Islam, of the period of translations from Greek into Syriac and Arabic, and of the impact of Islamic thought on Europe.