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Botnst · #1 11-30-2011, 08:04 PM

Philosophy, as it is generally studied in the modern university, springs from ancient Greece and the writings of Plato and Aristotle. The various famous ancient schools long thrived during the Hellenic and Roman eras, but then slowly faded away during the sixth century CE. There followed several centuries of darkness—a true Dark Ages, as much as medievalists dislike the phrase—until philosophical forms of thought began to reemerge in the ninth century. Around the same time, one finds distinct and quite independent philosophical movements afoot in Byzantium, in Latin Western Europe, and in the Islamic world. In time, the Latin tradition would become ascendant, as fostered within the European university and eventually reinvigorated by the Enlightenment and the rise of modern science. These developments, however, were still centuries away. In the year 900, by far the most robust and impressive philosophical tradition was found not in Europe, but in the Middle East. Islamic scholars there had embarked on a wholesale program to recover the traditions of Greek philosophy (particularly the works of Aristotle), translate them into Arabic, and rethink their message in light of the newly revealed teachings of the Qur’an. Anyone able to observe from on high these distinct intellectual traditions at the end of the first millennium would surely have put their money on the Muslims as the group most likely to inherit the Greek philosophical legacy, and so it was for several centuries, as a series of brilliant philosophers and scientists made Baghdad the intellectual center of the early medieval world.

Eventually, however, the center shifted—first to the western part of the Islamic world in northern Africa and southern Spain, and then north to Christian Europe. What we call the Middle Ages was, in Islam, the great classical era of philosophy and science. After several centuries of flourishing, however, the study of philosophy and science faded in Muslim countries, even while it was being pursued with increasing vigor in the Latin West.

What happened?

Much more at: HUMANITIES Magazine: November/December 2011: The Islamic Scholar Who Gave Us Modern Philosophy

10fords · #2 11-30-2011, 08:56 PM

Philosophy: Who needs it. One of my favorite books!

kerry · #3 11-30-2011, 09:07 PM

I haven't read the piece but in the late 90's this question intrigued me. There was a compelling historical analysis whose title slips me. One of the arguments was that European universities gained legal standing as 'persons', giving them freedom of inquiry independent of the Church. This did not happen in Islam.

kerry · #4 11-30-2011, 09:29 PM

One related issue--the author argues that philosophy as a central aspect of education is not assured. In Colorado there is a statewide core curriculum that requires students to choose from a variety of disciplines in the Humanities to take 6 credits and 6 more in the Social Sciences. I conducted a survey of these classes a few years ago inquiring of students which classes they thought most useful in giving them a general education and most likely to be used later in life. Philosophy came out on top by a very large margin.

Kuan · #5 11-30-2011, 09:31 PM

This Averroes fella is lucky he didn't get beheaded. Even today, talk of inserting rationality into bible study is considered taboo. Instead of thinking about God people are told what to think about God. We all could benefit from Duns Scotus or St. Augustine.

retmil46 · #6 11-30-2011, 09:37 PM

One treatise I read laid a good part of the blame for the decline of the "enlightened" version of Islam, centered around Baghdad, on the invasion of the Mongol Horde and the conquest of that region. This left a vacuum that the "fundamentalist" version of Islam filled.

Botnst · #7 11-30-2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

This Averroes fella is lucky he didn't get beheaded. Even today, talk of inserting rationality into bible study is considered taboo. Instead of thinking about God people are told what to think about God. We all could benefit from Duns Scotus or St. Augustine.

I recommend a papal encyclical named "Fides e Ratio" under the pen of Pope John Paul II. In it the pope defends rational enquiry as a gift of God. Fides et Ratio - John Paul II - Encyclical Letter (September 15, 1998)

kerry · #8 11-30-2011, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

I recommend a papal encyclical named "Fides e Ratio" under the pen of Pope John Paul II. In it the pope defends rational enquiry as a gift of God. Fides et Ratio - John Paul II - Encyclical Letter (September 15, 1998)

Catholics have always had a thing for philosophy.

Botnst · #9 11-30-2011, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Catholics have always had a thing for philosophy.

They also have a history of incinerating philosophies and philosophers that dont' adhere to dogma. Aquinas was under threat of excommunication for having demonstrated his proofs of God, absent faith.

compress ignite · #10 11-30-2011, 11:11 PM

Hey,
Bot

Are you sure you're not a follower of La società di Gesù ?

kerry · #11 11-30-2011, 11:12 PM

Just about every well know modern philosopher (except for Kant) was on the Index at one time or another.

Maki · #12 12-01-2011, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Philosophy, as it is generally studied in the modern university, springs from ancient Greece and the writings of Plato and Aristotle. The various famous ancient schools long thrived during the Hellenic and Roman eras, but then slowly faded away during the sixth century CE. There followed several centuries of darkness—a true Dark Ages, as much as medievalists dislike the phrase—until philosophical forms of thought began to reemerge in the ninth century. Around the same time, one finds distinct and quite independent philosophical movements afoot in Byzantium, in Latin Western Europe, and in the Islamic world. In time, the Latin tradition would become ascendant, as fostered within the European university and eventually reinvigorated by the Enlightenment and the rise of modern science. These developments, however, were still centuries away. In the year 900, by far the most robust and impressive philosophical tradition was found not in Europe, but in the Middle East. Islamic scholars there had embarked on a wholesale program to recover the traditions of Greek philosophy (particularly the works of Aristotle), translate them into Arabic, and rethink their message in light of the newly revealed teachings of the Qur’an. Anyone able to observe from on high these distinct intellectual traditions at the end of the first millennium would surely have put their money on the Muslims as the group most likely to inherit the Greek philosophical legacy, and so it was for several centuries, as a series of brilliant philosophers and scientists made Baghdad the intellectual center of the early medieval world.

Eventually, however, the center shifted—first to the western part of the Islamic world in northern Africa and southern Spain, and then north to Christian Europe. What we call the Middle Ages was, in Islam, the great classical era of philosophy and science. After several centuries of flourishing, however, the study of philosophy and science faded in Muslim countries, even while it was being pursued with increasing vigor in the Latin West.

What happened?

Much more at: HUMANITIES Magazine: November/December 2011: The Islamic Scholar Who Gave Us Modern Philosophy

In 1258, Hulagu Khan, the great Mongol general, sacked Baghdad, destroyed its great library and even forged a brief alliance with the Franks against the Muslims in the 13th century. The invasion was a huge disruption to Muslim culture at the same time the Christian Crusaders attacked from the West. The Mongols, with the Franks and Nestorian Christian elements in their armies, seized Syria in 1260, completing the conquest of the Tigris-Euphrates Valley and extending influence as far as Gaza.. The center of Muslim influence was forced westward, into Africa.

The Franks occupied parts of the Levant, but the Mongols did much of the conquest.

Botnst · #13 12-01-2011, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Just about every well know modern philosopher (except for Kant) was on the Index at one time or another.

If they were any good ....

But your first point was a good one (the one I dismissed with a wave of the hand). Had the RCC NOT supported enquiry to the greater glory of God, libraries in abbeys probably would not have survived and scholarship would have completely died.

elchivito · #14 12-01-2011, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

If they were any good ....

But your first point was a good one (the one I dismissed with a wave of the hand). Had the RCC NOT supported enquiry to the greater glory of God, libraries in abbeys probably would not have survived and scholarship would have completely died.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

strelnik · #15 12-01-2011, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Philosophy, as it is generally studied in the modern university, springs from ancient Greece and the writings of Plato and Aristotle. The various famous ancient schools long thrived during the Hellenic and Roman eras, but then slowly faded away during the sixth century CE. There followed several centuries of darkness—a true Dark Ages, as much as medievalists dislike the phrase—until philosophical forms of thought began to reemerge in the ninth century. Around the same time, one finds distinct and quite independent philosophical movements afoot in Byzantium, in Latin Western Europe, and in the Islamic world. In time, the Latin tradition would become ascendant, as fostered within the European university and eventually reinvigorated by the Enlightenment and the rise of modern science. These developments, however, were still centuries away. In the year 900, by far the most robust and impressive philosophical tradition was found not in Europe, but in the Middle East. Islamic scholars there had embarked on a wholesale program to recover the traditions of Greek philosophy (particularly the works of Aristotle), translate them into Arabic, and rethink their message in light of the newly revealed teachings of the Qur’an. Anyone able to observe from on high these distinct intellectual traditions at the end of the first millennium would surely have put their money on the Muslims as the group most likely to inherit the Greek philosophical legacy, and so it was for several centuries, as a series of brilliant philosophers and scientists made Baghdad the intellectual center of the early medieval world.

Eventually, however, the center shifted—first to the western part of the Islamic world in northern Africa and southern Spain, and then north to Christian Europe. What we call the Middle Ages was, in Islam, the great classical era of philosophy and science. After several centuries of flourishing, however, the study of philosophy and science faded in Muslim countries, even while it was being pursued with increasing vigor in the Latin West.

What happened?

Much more at: HUMANITIES Magazine: November/December 2011: The Islamic Scholar Who Gave Us Modern Philosophy

In 1191 or 1192, a widely-known imam and Islamic scholar wrote a fatwah against science, declaring all science evil other than that required for basic care of the human body.

Since that time, scientific studies dried up, and texts were destroyed.

I can't think of the guy's name but over time, they started to disregard it when it got in the way of conquering countries or making money. However, since that era, the Muslim penchant has not been for science, but for commerce in which one buys low and sells at a higher price.

Sound familiar?

When I get the name, I'll add it to this thread.