Classical Arabic Philosophy

[Pages:434]Classical Arabic Philosophy

An Anthology of Sources

CAP_PR.indd i

E1

5/29/2007 5:39:13 PM

E1

CAP_PR.indd ii

5/29/2007 5:39:14 PM

Classical Arabic Philosophy

An Anthology of Sources

Translated with Introduction, Notes, and Glossary by

Jon McGinnis and David C. Reisman

Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.

Indianapolis/Cambridge

E1

CAP_PR.indd iii

5/29/2007 5:39:14 PM

Copyright ? 2007 by Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.

All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America

13 12 11 10 09 08 1 2 3 4 5 6

For further information, please address:

Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. P.O. Box 44937 Indianapolis, IN 46244-0937



Cover design by ?? Text design by ?? Printed at ??

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Classical Arabic philosophy : an anthology of sources / translated with introduction, notes, and

glossary by Jon McGinnis and David C. Reisman.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978-0-87220-871-1 (pbk. : alk. paper)

ISBN-13: 978-0-87220-872-8 (cloth : alk. paper)

1. Philosophy, Islamic. I. McGinnis, Jon. II. Reisman, David C.

B741.C52 2007

181.92?dc22

2007018579

The paper in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences-- Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984

E1

CAP_PR.indd iv

5/29/2007 5:39:14 PM

To our sons Lorcan, Morgan, and Gage

CAP_PR.indd v

E1

5/29/2007 5:39:14 PM

E1

CAP_PR.indd vi

5/29/2007 5:39:14 PM

Contents

Preface

xi

Introduction xvii

I. Falsafa and the Arabic Translation Movement xvii

II. The Intellectual World of the Ancient and Medieval Mediterranean xix

III. The Physical Theory and Cosmology of Islamic Speculative Theology (Kala?m) xxviii

AL-KINDI?

1

I. The Explanation of the Proximate Efficient Cause for Generation and Corruption 1

II. On the Intellect 16

III. On Divine Unity and the Finitude of the World's Body 18

IV. The One True and Complete Agent and the Incomplete Metaphorical "Agent" 22

V. On the Means of Dispelling Sorrows 23

AR-RA? ZI?

36

I. The Philosopher's Way of Life 36 II. On the Five Eternals 44 III. Selections from Doubts against Galen 49

AL-FA? RA? BI?

54

I. The Eisag?oge?--The Introduction 55

II. Selections from Book of Demonstration 63

III. On the Intellect 68

IV. The Aims of Aristotle's Metaphysics 78

E1

vii

CAP_PR.indd vii

5/29/2007 5:39:14 PM

viii

Contents

V. The Principles of Existing Things 81 VI. Directing Attention to the Way to Happiness 104

BAGHDAD PERIPATETICS

121

I. Abu? Bishr Matt?: Selections from Abu? Bishr Matt?'s Commentary on Aristotle's Physics, II 7?9 122

II. Yah.y? ibn Ad?i: Selection from Establishing the Nature of the Possible 128

III. Abu? Sulayma?n as-Sijista?n?i: Selection from On the Proper Perfection of the Human Species 139

IBN SI?NA?

146

I. The Cure, "Book of Demonstration," I.9 147 II. The Cure, "Book of Demonstration," III.5 152 III. The Cure, "Physics," I.2 156 IV. Selections on Atomism from The Cure, "Physics" 164 V. Selections on "Inclination" (mayl) and Projectile Motion 171 VI. Selections on Psychology from The Cure, "The Soul" 175 VII. The Salvation, "Metaphysics," I.12 209 VIII. The Salvation, "Metaphysics," II.1?5 211 IX. The Salvation, "Metaphysics," II.12?13 214 X. The Salvation, "Metaphysics," II.18?19 216 XI. The Cure, "Metaphysics," IV.2 219 XII. On Governance 224

AL-GHAZA? LI?

238

I. Concerning That on Which True Demonstration Is Based 239 II. The Incoherence of the Philosophers, "The First Discussion,"

On Refuting Their Claim of the World's Eternity 241 III. On Power 254

E1

CAP_PR.indd viii

5/29/2007 5:39:14 PM

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download