Al-Farabi and His SchoolAl-Farabi and His School examines one of the most exciting and dynamic periods in the development of medieval Islam: the period which ran from the late ninth century to the early eleventh century AD. This age is examined through the thought of five of its principal thinkers and named after the first and greatest of these as the "Age of Farabism." Ian Richard Netton demonstrates that the great Islamic philosopher al-Farabi (870-950), called "the Second Master" after Aristotle, produced a recognizable school of thought. This school of thought, which Netton refers to as the "School of al-Farabi," was influenced by the thought of Plato, Aristotle, and Plotinus. Yet, it was much more than a mere clone of Greek thought. The originality and independence of thought expressed by such adherents as Yahya b. Adi, Abu Sulayman al-Sijistani, al-Amiri and Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi is described, appreciated, and critically assessed in this volume, with an emphasis given to the fundamentals of epistemology. Al-Farabi and His School is unique in its examination of the intellectual continuity that was maintained in an age of flux, and its particular emphasis on the ethical dimensions of knowledge. -- Back cover. |
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Abu Hayyan Abu Sulayman acquired Active actuality al-'Amiri al-Farabi al-Sijistani al-Tawhidi Allah already animal appears Arabic text Aristotelian Aristotle aspects authors Badawi Baghdad basic become Book chapter Christian classification clear clearly course court culture described dimension discussion division doctrine English epistemology Epistle ethics examination example existing Fakhry Farabism final forms four Greek History History of Islamic Humanism ibid important intellect interesting kind Kitab knowledge known Kraemer latter least logic major Master means medieval Metaphysics Middle Muslim nature Neoplatonic Netton noted original paradigm particular Perfect philosophical Plato political primary principle provides question rational reason referred Renaissance of Islam Rosenthal Rowson scholars Sciences senses soul sources stress survey theory things thinkers thought tion tradition trans Transcendent translation Treatise University virtue volume whole writing Yafcya Yahya