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 is properly meant by scientific and philosophical inquiry, and what are its methods? How does rational investigation relate to religious revelation and to the law? These questions—among the most general and fundamental—lie at the heart of the Decisive Treatise on the Agreement between Religion and Philosophy (Faṣl al-maqāl fī-mā bayna al-ḥikma wa-al-sharīʿa min al-ittiṣāl) by Averroes (Abū al-Walīd Ibn Rushd, d. 1198), known in the West as the “Commentator” on Aristotle par excellence.
Reading this classic of the Arabic philosophical tradition will make it possible to explore conceptions of science, rationality, and social order in twelfth-century Muslim Spain, while also providing useful tools for understanding the debates that emerged in the early twentieth century on the relationship between Arab and European cultural traditions—debates that have taken this work of Averroes as one of their starting points. The analysis and discussion of the text, based on the English translation by Charles Butterworth, with occasional reference to that of Massimo Campanini, will be preceded by an introduction to medieval Arabic philosophy and to the figure of Averroes.

PRIMARY SOURCES:

Ibn Rushd, Decisive Treatise (Faṣl al-maqāl) (1178/9), in English translation:
- The Book of the Decisive Treatise Determining the Connection Between the Law and Wisdom; and Epistle Dedicatory, tr. Charles E. Butterworth (Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 2001) [available here: https://archive.org/details/averroes-decisive-treatise-epistle-butterworth/mode/2up and on Moodle]
- Averroes, the Decisive Treatise: The Connection Between Islamic Religious Law and Philosophy Edited with an Introduction by Massimo Campanini (Gorgias Press, 2017) [available on Moodle]

SECONDARY SOURCES:
- Peter Adamson and Richard Taylor (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy, Cambridge University Press 2006 (selected chapters).
- Ben Ahmed, Fouad and Robert Pasnau, "Ibn Rushd [Averroes]", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2025 Edition), Edward N. Zalta & Uri Nodelman (eds.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2025/entries/ibn-rushd/> ;.
- Dominique Urvoy, "Ibn Rushd" - Chapt. 23 in Nasr, Seyyed Hossein; Leaman, Oliver (eds.), History of Islamic Philosophy, Routledge 2015 [available on Moodle].

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

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The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

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.