The twelfth-century philosopher Ibn Rushd, also known as Averroes, played a crucial role in the transmission of classical philosophy to Islam, and his work had a profound influence on western scholasticism and on aspects of Renaissance thought. This book, first published in 1991, sets out the main elements of Ibn Rushd’s work against the historical and cultural background of Muslim Spain. It shows how his writings formed part of the wider movement of Almohadism and seeks to understand the mixed reception of his thought and the rise and fall of his reputation.
Introduction. Historical and Cultural Context. Biography and Family Background. 1. The Major Options 1.1. The Scientific Options 1.2. Methodological Consequences 1.3. Cultural Complements 1.4. Involvement in the Muslim Community 2. The Interpretation of Almohadism 2.1. Rushdian Theology 2.2. The Philosophical Implications 3. A ‘Human’ Knowledge 3.1. Reasoning 3.2. The Status of the Intellect 3.3. The Human Community and the Political Community 4. An Ambiguous Audience 4.1. The Muslim Milieu 4.2. The Jewish Milieu 4.3. The Medieval Christian Orientalists
Biography
Dominique Urvoy
