Al-Farabi and His School (Arabic Thought and Culture)

Product Description

Examines one of the most exciting and dynamic periods in the development of medieval Islam, from the late 9th to the early 11th century, through the thought of five of its principal thinkers, prime among them al-Farabi. This great Islamic philosopher, called 'the Second Master' after Aristotle, produced a recognizable school of thought in which others pursued and developed some of his own intellectual preoccupations. Their thought is treated with particular reference to the most basic questions which can be asked in the theory of knowledge or epistemology. The book thus fills a lacuna in the literature by using this approach to highlight the intellectual continuity which was maintained in an age of flux. Particular attention is paid to the ethical dimensions of knowledge.

Review

"Netton's account of the central currents in Islamic philosophy from 870 to 1023 is surprisingly comprehensive . . . readers will find themselves eagerly following Netton's crisp narrative. . . . Highly recommended for research libraries."
-"Choice

About the Author

Ian Richard Netton is Reader in Arab and Islamic Civilization and Thought and Head of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter. He is the author of Allah Transcendent (Routledge, 1989).