Politi Phil in Classical Islam

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Was there any political philosophy in classical Islam? What was the place left for politics in the shadow of religion? Was there any distinction between the sphere of ethics and that of politics? What kind of questions, if any, would the philosophers raise concerning the state and its origin, power, law, community etc.? Those are few out of several more questions that this course intends to answer through the study of the most prominent figures in Islamic philosophy. The emphasis of the course is on texts. Beginning with the literature of councels (mirror of princes), the course will address, among others, the issues of the exercise of power, the relationship between religion and politics, the lawgiver; political organizations (virtuous city and imperfect regimes) and their transformation, through the works of al-Farabi, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Ibn Bajja (Avempace) and Ibn Rushd (Averroes), ending with Ibn Khaldun. All texts are provided in English translation as well as in Arabic. The class is conducted in English but students who would like to read the texts in Arabic are welcome to do so.