Avicenna

by Lenn E. Goodman

the philosophers in the West, none, perhaps, is better known by name and less familiar in actual content of his ideas than the medieval Muslim philosopher, physician, minister and naturalist Abu Ali Ibn Sina, known since the days of the scholastics as Avicenna. In this book the author, himself a philosopher, and long known for his studies of Arabic thought, presents a factual account of Avicenna's philosophy. Setting the thinker in the context of his often turbulent times and tracing the roots and influences of Avicenna's ideas, this book offers a factual philosophical portrait. It details Avicenna's account of being as a synthesis between the seemingly irreconcilable extremes of Aristotelian eternalism and the creationism of monotheistic scripture. It examines Avicenna's distinctive theory of knowledge, his ideas about immortality and individuality, including the famous "floating man argument", his contributions to logic, and his probing thoughts on rhetoric and poetics.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 17, 1992

Reviews

[Gene Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book on my shelf for many years, and only started reading it a few months ago. It is really only for the dedicated reader in the history of philosophy. What makes this book really wonderful besides the author's incredible understanding of this complex medieval Islamic philosopher is his uncanny ability to see Avicenna's philosophy as it relates to many contemporary issues. Not many who write in this vein can do it so well. This is a superb book, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[د. يوسف Yousif شمس الدين Shamsaldeen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not well focused, and too much jargons