ARABIC PHILOSOPHY

The ‘Arabic Philosophy’ course is intended to introduce students to the key aspects of medieval philosophical thought developed in Arabic language across a vast geographical region, extending from Spain to Iran. It traces the evolution of this tradition, beginning with early theoretical debates and the reception of Greek philosophical works around the 8th century CE. As part of the broader curriculum of PHILOSOPHY, INTERNATIONAL AND ECONOMIC STUDIES, this course aims to equip students with essential knowledge and skills related to intellectual practices, foundational texts, major thinkers, philosophical arguments, and the technical vocabulary of non-Western philosophical traditions. Particular attention will be given to the examination of a selection of key themes and issues in Arabic philosophy, focusing on their connection to pivotal moments in the history of philosophy and the developments shaped by contemporary debate.

The course aims to:

1) Provide students with a foundational understanding of the key themes and figures of medieval Arabic philosophy;
2) Encourage critical engagement with a philosophical text from the Arabic tradition (in an English translation provided by the instructor) and deepen their understanding of its technical vocabulary;
3) Equip students with the tools to understand the transmission dynamics of texts and ideas within non-Western philosophical and intellectual traditions;
4) Develop students’ awareness of the richness and theoretical significance of Arabic philosophy and its interactions with other philosophical traditions.

While there are no formal prerequisites, a general familiarity with philosophy is an advantage.

What truly qualifies as science, and what are its methods? How are the theoretical and moral virtues of human beings related? How is knowledge translated into political action? These are some of the broad, foundational questions at the heart of 'The Book of the Attainment of Happiness' (Kitāb Taḥṣīl al-Saʿāda) by Al-Fārābī (d. ca. 950), known as the "Second Master" of the Arabic philosophical tradition, following Aristotle.
Reading this classic work will provide insight into Al-Fārābī's vision of science and society, as well as his understanding of the history of knowledge transmission — particularly regarding the philosophical systems of Aristotle and Plato. The analysis and discussion of this text — based on Muhsin Mahdi's English translation — will be preceded by an introduction to the medieval Arabic philosophical tradition and to Al-Fārābī's intellectual legacy.

PRIMARY SOURCES:

Al-Fārābī, Attainment [of Happiness], in Alfarabi, Philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, trans. with an intro. by M. Mahdi, Glencoe, IL: Free Press, 1962, pp. 13–50 (revised ed. with a foreword by C.E. Butterworth and T.L. Pangle, Ithaca and New York: Cornell University Press, 2001, pp. 13–50.

SECONDARY SOURCES:
- Peter Adamson and Richard Taylor (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy, Cambridge University Press 2006 (selected chapters).
- Therese-Anne Druart, "al-Farabi", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2024 Edition), Edward N. Zalta & Uri Nodelman (eds.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2024/entries/al-farabi/> ;.
- Nadja Germann, "al-Farabi’s Philosophy of Society and Religion", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2021/entries/al-farabi-soc-rel/> ;.

The assessment method consists of an oral exam, focusing on the knowledge of textbook materials and primary literature texts analyzed during the lectures.

oral

Final grades will be assigned on a scale of thirty.

The classes will provide all the necessary background to understand the topics treated and the study material. We will also present and critically discuss some of the key authors, referring (when relevant) to the authors' original texts. Additionally, the classes will serve as an opportunity for students to actively engage and discuss the topics based on their own reading of the assigned material.