Lesson 9: Philosophy II - Arabic Philosophy

Question 1

The Mu’tazila School (8th-10th c.)

Answer 1

• “The Secluded” - little known philosophers
• Reading religious texts in a liberal way: open to interpretation
• Believed that the Koran was not an integral part of God but something created by him - since he is one and indivisible - and thus:
  => Could be adapted to a particular region and moment in history
  => Left room for interpretation
• Believed that God created our reason because he wants us to use it - created us to believe in him and follow him in a conscious and thoughtful way
  SO human reason is not contrary to faith because it leads to God
• Koran was given to us in an accessible form but God remains inaccessible to our intellect
• Reason allows us to understand the divine principles but it does not establish them

Question 2

The Mu’tazila School - Strict Rules of Interpretation

Answer 2

1) The Koran is to be considered as a whole

2) Interpretation is warranted if the literal meaning contradicts other parts of the Koran or common sense

3) Parts of the Koran can’t be interpreted allegorically

4) If two interpretations are possible we should adopt the one closest to the literal meaning

Question 3

Al-Kindi (9th century)

Answer 3

• First Arab philosopher
• Belonged to Mu’tazila school
• Supervised Greek philosophy translation to Arabic in the House of Wisdom
• Introduced new words:
  => falsafa: from Greek filosofia (love of wisdom)
  => musica: from Greek moussiqué (art of the Muse)
• Believed that reason and faith lead to the same truth of God’s existence & that, having given us the freedom to act, God holds us responsible for our deeds

Question 4

Al-Farabi (late 9th - mid 10th century)

Answer 4

• Mathematician, musician and first philosopher with systematic thinking
• Established global system of life
• 3 pillars of his philosophy:

1) Philosopher and prophet have access to same truth through reason and revelation respectively

2) Islam compatible with Neo-Platonism (idea that moral virtue brings one closer to God)

3) Idea of the Virtuous City governed by a virtuous man leading his people on the right path (similar to Plato’s argument in The Republic)

Question 5

Ibn Sina (Avicenna) & Rational Theology (late 10th-early 11th century)

Answer 5

• One of the most known philosophers and physicians
• Wrote on philosophy, medicine, geography, physics and mathematics
• Rational Theology: idea that not only the existence of God but also His attributes and message can be known through reason (though it is usually only philosophers who can reach it that way - non-philosophers do so through faith)
• Distinction between essence (potentiality - associated with ideal world of Plato) & existence (accidentality): essence makes existence possible when it is materialized, though this is accidental (since potentiality is neither necessary nor mandatory, but rather contingent) and thus must have a cause (end: uncaused cause or God)

Question 6

Ibn Rushd (Averroes) (12th century)

Answer 6

• Last great philosopher of the Golden Age
• Persecuted by caliph al-Mansur & self-exiled to Morocco
  This victory of the conservatives over the Mu’tazila school marked the end of the Arab’s civilization’s Golden Age since quashing creativity meant quashing freedom of thinking and expression in all fields
• “Judge of judges”
• Believed that reason cannot contradict faith because both lead to the same truth (God’s existence & message)
  God’s existence: because the universe is so perfectly fine-tuned, there must be a fine-tuner
• Rejects Neo-Platonist emanation because it implies divisibility and succession that are incompatible with the unity and perfection of God

Question 7

Characteristics & Ideas of Arabic Philosophy

Answer 7

1) Central question/main focus:
compatibility of reason and faith

2) Basic idea:
the Koran was created and, can be interpreted and adapted to changing times and society

3) Fundamental truth:
Islam as God’s message - no secular or moral philosophy developed outside of Islam

4) Influence and enrichment: Greek philosophy supplemented by Arabs - they were mainly influenced by Neo-Platonism but also did not forget to go back to the sources (Plato & Aristotle)

Question 8

Legacy of Arabic Philosophy in Europe

Answer 8

• Europe learned Greek philosophy through the Arabs: translation of Plato’s texts and its interpretations by Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina & Ibn Rushd for example
• Europe adopted Arabs’ call to read religious texts allegorically

Question 9

Sufism

Answer 9

• From souf (wool) which the first Sufis wore exclusively
• Way of practicing Islam, with deep philosophical roots
• Bases:
  1) Verse 5:54 in Koran
  2) Neo-Platonism
  => all beings emanate from the One
  => we can get closer to Him through love, virtue & asceticism (or renouncing of worldly pleasures)

Question 10

Major Sufi figures

Answer 10

• Rabi’ah al-Adawiyyah (8th c.)
=> one of founders of Sufism
=> wrote Sufi poetry (love verses to God)
=> founded Sufi philosophical school of “Divine Love”

•Al-Hallaj (9th-10th c.)
=> composed Sufi poems in which he expresses strong love to God to the point where he becomes one with Him
=> condemned to death for heresy because poem was taken too literally