1998 marked the 800th anniversary of the death of
Averroes, the famous medieval philosopher, commentator on Aristotle, and
great Islamic intellectual. Now Roger Arnaldez, one of the world's most
distinguished Islamists, fascinates us with the story of Averroes and
his remarkable role in the history of the Middle Ages.
His prodigious knowledge of astronomy, medicine,
Aristotelian philosophy, quranic studies, and the civil law of his time
based on the Quran, made Averroes a favorite of the sultan's court. He
was appointed Grand Qadi, the highest judicial position in the medieval
Spanish city of Cordoba. Yet in the midst of his success Averroes faced
a struggle that is not unknown to thinkers today: how to reconcile
philosophical reason with faith, specifically his Muslim faith and the
tenets of the Quran.
In 1195, following conflicts with orthodox Muslim
clergy, who possessed political influence and power, Averroes fell into
disfavor with the leaders of the Islamic state. His writings were burned
and he was forced into exile. Eventually he regained his position as an
intellectual leader but he died shortly thereafter in 1198. This
insightful study of his struggle to resolve the public and personal
conflicts that accompany such a multi-faceted intellectual life enriches
our understanding not only of Averroes but also of the medieval world in
which he lived.
Through this meticulous review, which includes
analyses of Averroes' various commentaries on Aristotle and his
theological treatises, Arnaldez argues that Averroes deserves a higher
place in Muslim intellectual history than he now holds.
Everyone who studies medieval history, theology,
philosophy, Islam, or intellectual history will enjoy this book.
