Islam: Science and Philosophy Flashcards
What are the key reasons causing the decline of science in Medieval Islam?
- Arabic could not be easily printed - scientific discoveries could not be shared
- Attack from the Mongols, invasions from 1200 onwards
- White western colonisation
- Ferdinand and Isabella in Spain: got rid of all Islamic civilisations. Burnt all the Arabic texts from the great Granada library.
Why did some medieval Islamic scholars believe that Islam and science was compatible?
saw the laws of nature as the same as God’s laws in the Qur’an. Where natural laws of the universe are observed, this is called the Qur’an al-Takwini. Studying the world meant studying Allah’s creation so should be encouraged.
What are modern examples of Muslims educating other Muslims about evolution?
Hasan - an Imam of an East London mosque tried to tell his congregation that Allah and evolution were not at odds but he was asked to step down.
How does evolution contradict Islam?
Islam states that man was made from a ‘clay sperm drop’ whereas evolution suggests we evolved from apes
What was Ibn Sina’s contribution?
The Canon of Medicine which was a standard Medical text at Many Islamic and European universities up Until the early 19thcentury.
What was Haithams scientific contribution?
- accurately various parts of the eye and give a scientific explanation of the process of vision
- Discovered laws of refraction
What was Battani’s scientific contribution?
- Accurately determined solar year as being 365 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes and 24 seconds
- Original discoveries both in Astronomy and Trigonometry of great consequence in the development of these sciences
What was Biruni’s scientific contribution?
Al-Biruni knew that the Earth Rotates about its own axis, some 600 years prior to Galileo, and determined the Earth’s Circumference some 700 years prior to Newton
What was Al Khwarizmi’s scientific contribution?
He was the founder of algebra
What was Al-Razi’s contribution?
first to use opium for anaesthesia, pioneer of neuro surgery, wrote first book of paediatrics, work on small pox was recognised 1970.
Explain Ghazali’s first spiritual crisis:
- knowledge through the senses can be doubted e.g. the sun looks small and yet it is bigger than the earth!
—> How do we know that our experiences are real - are we dreaming or awake? - He doubts his senses and his intellect
What does Ghazali conclude after his first crisis?
- God gives people revealed truths (necessary truths) through scripture
What are Ghazali’s issues with philosophy?
