Essay - Islamic Philosophy Abul-waleed Muhammad Ibn Rushd: His Work and Philosophy...

Islamic Philosophy

Abul-Waleed Muhammad Ibn Rushd: His Work and Philosophy

Abul-Waleed ***** Ibn Rushd (1126-1198 C.E), also known as Averroes, is regarded by many as one of the foremost Islamic philosophers and a pivotal figure in ***** history of Andalusian philosophy. He is also deemed an important figure in the history of Western philosophy. An important contribution to ***** culture ***** ***** was his defense of Greek philosophy in ***** Islamic world as well as ***** emphasis on the ***** of Aris*****tle. Ibn ***** is credited with the introducti***** of "rationalism" into Islamic philosophy.

A as Etienne Gilson h***** written in his Reason and Revelation in ***** Middle Ages, Rationalism was born ***** Spain in the mind of an Arabian philosopher, as a conscious reaction against ***** theologism ***** the ***** divines, by whom he means ***** Ash'arite Mutakallimun. (Fakhry)

In global terms it h***** been asserted that not only did he make an invaluable contribution to Islamic thought but ***** ***** 'philosophical rationalism', which was created five centuries earlier than Descartes writings, is even more comprehensive that the rational*****m of the famous Western philosopher. This is an indication of the stature ***** Ibdn Rushd, as Descartes is generally regarded as the father of modern *****. H***** influence even extended to Christian Ecclesiastes in the ***** Ages, *****cluding men like St. Thomas Aquinas. Another important aspect ***** his thinking ***** ***** insistence "***** there is no incompatibility between religion and philosophy when both are properly understood." (Zahoor)

Abul-Waleed Muhammad Ibn Rushd was born in Cordova, ***** in 520 A.H. or 1128 C.E. He came from a *****-***** judici*****l family and both his father ***** grandfather were judges. His family ***** ***** well-known for their scholarship. He studied religious law, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy. ***** Rushd was appointed as judge in Seville at the age of forty-four. He wrote commentaries on the works of Aristotle, *****cluding the Metaphysics. After serving ***** a judge in Cordova he ***** called to Marrakech ***** work as a physician for the Caliph *****. On ***** return to Cordova he w***** appointed as Chief Judge. Ibn Rushd was interested in philosophy and logic and ***** ********** on integr*****ing philosophy ***** religion in many of his *****. He was also *****terested in ***** and "According ***** ***** French philosop*****r Renan, ***** Rushd ***** seventy-eight books on various subjects." (ibid) The International ***** Digital Library sums up his ***** to Islamic thought and to philosophy in general, as follows:

***** Rushd a.k.a Averroes was one ***** the brightest intellectual luminaries of the Middle Ages. Coming from a family ***** for scholarship, he excelled in Islamic ***** law, medic*****e, mat*****matics and philosophy. ***** intelligentsia considers Averroes great because of the tremendous stir he caused in t***** m*****ds of men ***** centuries.

IIDL)

***** Rushd produced an extensive range of writings, the most famous of which deal with philosophy, logic, medicine ***** jurisprudence. He also made significant contributions in the field of music. The ***** of ***** ***** and philosophy