Focussing on the philosophical and theological ideas of mediaeval Arabic thinkers, this module provides students with an opportunity to study a range of thinkers and their ideas, ranging from topics such as the Graeco-Arabic translation movement during the so-called Islamic ‘Golden Age’, to the impact of Neoplatonism on Islamic philosophy, the proofs of God’s existence, political philosophy, theological reactions to Hellenistic philosophy, ethics and philosophical Sufism. It aims to give students the ability to navigate original texts in their historical context, the ability to unpack and assess philosophical arguments, to appreciate the ecumenical nature of shared philosophical and theological concerns among Jews, Christians and Muslims, and the ability to assess the compatibility or lack thereof of faith and reason during the Islamic middle ages. Throughout this course students will be tested on their ability to engage primary philosophical literature. Furthermore, they will be expected to summarise the key ideas and themes mentioned in each week’s reading through group discussion and question-led activities.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Demonstrate critical understanding of the key themes of Arabic/Islamic philosophy and theology, and the tensions, if any, that occurred at interface between these two epistemological approaches.
Demonstrate an in-depth awareness of a range of key thinkers and their works from the classical and post-classical periods of Islamic history
Identify and evaluate the arguments of philosophers and theologians demonstrating a sound understanding of appropriate technical philosophical terminology.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the ecumenical nature of mediaeval Arabic thought and its participants (Muslims, Jews and Christians).
