Success and Suppression: Arabic Sciences and Philosophy in the Renaissance (I Tatti Studies in Italian Renaissance History)

The Renaissance Marked A Turning Point In Europe's Relationship To Arabic Thought. On The One Hand, The Author Of This Book Argues, It Was The Period In Which Important Arabic Traditions Reached The Peak Of Their Influence In Europe. On The Other Hand, It Is The Time When The West Began To Forget, And Even Actively Suppress, Its Debt To Arabic Culture. Success And Suppression Traces The Complex Story Of Arabic Influence On Renaissance Thought. It Is Often Assumed That The Renaissance Had Little Interest In Arabic Sciences And Philosophy, Because Humanist Polemics From The Period Attacked Arabic Learning And Championed Greek Civilization. Yet The Author Shows That Renaissance Denials Of Arabic Influence Emerged Not Because Scholars Of The Time Rejected That Intellectual Tradition Altogether But Because A Small Group Of Anti-arab Hard-liners Strove To Suppress Its Powerful And Persuasive Influence. The Period Witnessed A Boom In New Translations And Multivolume Editions Of Arabic Authors, And European Philosophers And Scientists Incorporated--and Often Celebrated--arabic Thought In Their Work, Especially In Medicine, Philosophy, And Astrology. But The Famous Arabic Authorities Were A Prominent Obstacle To The Renaissance Project Of Renewing European Academic Culture Through Greece And Rome, And Radical Reformers Accused Arabic Science Of Linguistic Corruption, Plagiarism, Or Irreligion. Hasse Shows How A Mixture Of Ideological And Scientific Motives Led To The Decline Of Some Arabic Traditions In Important Areas Of European Culture, While Others Continued To Flourish.-- Part One: The Presence Of Arabic Traditions -- Introduction: Editions And Curricula -- Bio-bibliography: A Canon Of Learned Men -- Philology: Translators' Programmes And Techniques -- Part Two: Greeks Versus Arabs -- Materia Medica: Humanists On Laxatives -- Philosophy: Averroes' Partisans And Enemies -- Astrology: Ptolemy Against The Arabs. Dag Nikolaus Hasse. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [549]-632) And Indexes. The Renaissance marked a turning point in Europe's relationship to Arabic thought. On the one hand, the author of this book argues, it was the period in which important Arabic traditions reached the peak of their influence in Europe. On the other hand, it is the time when the West began to forget, and even actively suppress, its debt to Arabic culture. Success and Suppression traces the complex story of Arabic influence on Renaissance thought. It is often assumed that the Renaissance had little interest in Arabic sciences and philosophy, because humanist polemics from the period attacked Arabic learning and championed Greek civilization. Yet the author shows that Renaissance denials of Arabic influence emerged not because scholars of the time rejected that intellectual tradition altogether but because a small group of anti-Arab hard-liners strove to suppress its powerful and persuasive influence. The period witnessed a boom in new translations and multivolume editions of Arabic authors, and European philosophers and scientists incorporated--and often celebrated--Arabic thought in their work, especially in medicine, philosophy, and astrology. But the famous Arabic authorities were a prominent obstacle to the Renaissance project of renewing European academic culture through Greece and Rome, and radical reformers accused Arabic science of linguistic corruption, plagiarism, or irreligion. Hasse shows how a mixture of ideological and scientific motives led to the decline of some Arabic traditions in important areas of European culture, while others continued to flourish.-- Provided by publisher La jaquette indique : "The Renaissance marked a turning point in Europe's relationship to Arabic thought. On the one hand, the author of this book argues, it was the period in which important Arabic traditions reached the peak of their influence in Europe. On the other hand, it is the time when the West began to forget, and even actively suppress, its debt to Arabic culture. Success and Suppression traces the complex story of Arabic influence on Renaissance thought. It is often assumed that the Renaissance had little interest in Arabic sciences and philosophy, because humanist polemics from the period attacked Arabic learning and championed Greek civilization. Yet the author shows that Renaissance denials of Arabic influence emerged not because scholars of the time rejected that intellectual tradition altogether but because a small group of anti-Arab hard-liners strove to suppress its powerful and persuasive influence. The period witnessed a boom in new translations and multivolume editions of Arabic authors, and European philosophers and scientists incorporated--and often celebrated--Arabic thought in their work, especially in medicine, philosophy, and astrology. But the famous Arabic authorities were a prominent obstacle to the Renaissance project of renewing European academic culture through Greece and Rome, and radical reformers accused Arabic science of linguistic corruption, plagiarism, or irreligion. Hasse shows how a mixture of ideological and scientific motives led to the decline of some Arabic traditions in important areas of European culture, while others continued to flourish." The Renaissance marked a turning point in Europe's relationship to Arabic thought. On the one hand, Dag Nikolaus Hasse argues, it was the period in which important Arabic traditions reached the peak of their influence in Europe. On the other hand, it is the time when the West began to forget, and even actively suppress, its debt to Arabic culture. Success and Suppression traces the complex story of Arabic influence on Renaissance thought. It is often assumed that the Renaissance had little interest in Arabic sciences and philosophy, because humanist polemics from the period attacked Arabic learning and championed Greek civilization. Yet Hasse shows that Renaissance denials of Arabic influence emerged not because scholars of the time rejected that intellectual tradition altogether but because a small group of anti-Arab hard-liners strove to suppress its powerful and persuasive influence. The period witnessed a boom in new translations and multivolume editions of Arabic authors, and European philosophers and scientists incorporated--and often celebrated--Arabic thought in their work, especially in medicine, philosophy, and astrology. But the famous Arabic authorities were a prominent obstacle to the Renaissance project of renewing European academic culture through Greece and Rome, and radical reformers accused Arabic science of linguistic corruption, plagiarism, or irreligion. Hasse shows how a mixture of ideological and scientific motives led to the decline of some Arabic traditions in important areas of European culture, while others continued to flourish. Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of Figures and Tables -- Preface -- Note on Terminology, Orthography, and Transliteration -- Part I: The Presence of Arabic Traditions -- Chapter 1. Introduction: Editions and Curricula -- Chapter 2. Bio-Bibliography: A Canon of Learned Men -- Chapter 3. Philology: Translators' Programs and Techniques -- Part II: Greeks versus Arabs -- Chapter 4. Materia medica: Humanists on Laxatives -- Chapter 5. Philosophy: Averroes's Partisans and Enemies -- Chapter 6. Astrology: Ptolemy against the Arabs -- Chapter 7. Conclusion -- Appendix: The Availability of Arabic Authors in Latin Editions of the Renaissance -- Abbreviations -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Acknowledgments -- Index of Names -- General Index

Dag Nikolaus Hasse shows how ideological and scientific motives led to the decline of Arabic traditions in European culture. The Renaissance was a turning point: on the one hand, Arabic scientific traditions reached their peak of influence in Europe; on the other, during this period the West began to forget, or suppress, its debt to Arabic culture.