Introduction to Islamic Philosophy

4 credits · Undergraduate

This course introduces classical Islamic philosophy through readings from major thinkers, including al-Kindi, al-Farabi, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Ibn Tufayl, and Ibn Rushd (Averroes), among others. Topics include the development of the scientific method in the medieval Islamic world; the relationship between reason and revelation; the nature of the self; theories of the cosmos and creation; the nature of God; the relationship between philosophy and mysticism; and the role of philosophy in social life. Students will develop a deep understanding of the development of classical Islamic philosophy, its major thinkers and central debates, the Graeco-Arabic translation movement, and the Islamic texts and sources that shaped its development.