Theology & Philosophy

Political Freedom in Classical Islamic Philosophy

ABSTRACT

This conference examined the great philosophers of the Islamic “Classical Period” (ca. 900–1200). While these philosophers wrote on a great many subjects, woven into all of their deliberations is the relationship between the individual (especially the individual qua philosopher), the state, and the religion of Islam. This colloquium examined these points, paying particular attention to the debate in this literature about the relation of Islam to the ideal state and the philosopher’s idea of Law.

READING LIST

Conference Readings

McGinnis, Jon and David C. Reisman, eds. Classical Arabic Philosophy: An Anthology of Sources, Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2007.

Butterworth, Charles E., comps. Alfarabi: The Political Writings, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2001.

Lerner, Ralph, eds. Averroes on Plato's Republic, Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1974.

Lerner, Ralph and Muhsin Mahdi, eds. Medieval Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook, Toronto: Free Press, 1963.