PROPHETIC TRADITION AND HELLENISM

1
PROPHETIC TRADITION AND HELLENISM

• RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY IN ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION

2
THE AGE OF TRANSLATION

• 9th 11th centuries From Greek into Arabic
• Hunayn b. Ishaq founder of a school of
  translators
• Every human language potentially adaptable to
  every linguistic use
• Ibn al-Muqaffa- developer of technical Arabic
  and translator of Sanskrit and Pahlavi texts into
  Arabic
• Astronomy, Mathematics, Optics and Music, Medicine

3
FALSAFAH PHILOSOPHIA

• Study of metaphysics and logic study of
  philosophic approach to life governing oneself
  by REASON
• Rational principles behind apparent diversity of
  manifestations in all aspects of nature
• Study of human being science of body medicine
  guided by the science of ethics and politics
• Purpose of existence harmony with life

4
FAYLASUF AND ULAMA

• In Muslim culture, faylasufs followed medicine
  and astrology as professions
• Ulama rejected astrology as diabolic
• Astrology founded on the doctrine that changes in
  the heavenly bodies correlated with changes of
  fortune on the earth
• The lore of divination seen as interference with
  Gods predetermined will

5
CONCEPTION OF REALITY IN PHILOSOPHY

• Rationality required bringing all experience and
  all values under philosophical world view
• Empirical observation would lead to emergence of
  essential, universal principles
• The realm of historical was despised as unworthy,
  irrelevant to true self-cultivation
• Universe essentially rational, an inherent
  ontological rationality, independent of human
  minds
• Values of given events also ontologically inherent

6
FAYLASUFS NOTION OF GOD IBN SINA (d. 1037)

• God, a cosmic entity, not an experienced
  challenge
• Ibn Sinas twofold proof based on the philosophic
  world view composite matters distinguishable
  into form and matter simples primary and the
  compounds derivative (Tree-bark, bark-tree)
• Composite ontologically contingent upon something
  outside itself (child in a family)
• Absolutely simple cannot be caused by something
  else, a necessary being
• God, the first cause necessary being

7
PROPHETS NOTION OF GOD

• More moral than ontological, more historical than
  timeless
• God demands obedience, not simply honor
• Faylasufs rejected any cosmic history with a
  beginning and end God not as Creator, as
  Providence, or as Judge
• Resurrection at the end of time

8
SOCRATIC FAITH AND ABRAHAMIC FAITH

• Faylasuf RAZIs problem with Revelation that was
  open to conflicting claims against the divine
  purpose, destructive
• Ismaili RAZIs problem with Reason and his
  proposal for ultimately authoritative leader
• Independent study and examination for the
  development of purified soul (FR)
• Moral dimension of living process of inquiry to
  make a good man (FR), responsible living
  according to Shariah (IR)

9
REVELATION AS POLITICAL TRUTH

• Coming to terms with popular revealed religion
  the role of Al-Farabi (d. 950)
• Concern with social and political questions
  political philosophy
• A well-ordered society required doctrines
• Inhabitants of a good society, endowed with
  reason, behave justly toward one another
• To be ruled by a perfect philosopher
• Revelation, a natural process essential to the
  formation of a society