Allegory and Philosophy in Avicenna (Ibn Sînâ) (eBook)

With a Translation of the Book of the Prophet Muhammad's Ascent to Heaven

Peter Heath (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2010
272 Seiten
University of Pennsylvania Press, Inc. (Verlag)
978-0-8122-0222-9 (ISBN)

Infos

Explores the use of allegory in the writing of the renowned eleventh-century Muslim philosopher known in the West as Avicenna, paying special attention to the ways he influenced theological, mystical, and literary thought in subsequent Islamic—and Western—intellectual and religious history.

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Islamic allegory is the product of a cohesive literary tradition to which few contributed as significantly as Ibn Sina (Avicenna), the eleventh-century Muslim philosopher. Peter Heath here offers a detailed examination of Avicenna's contribution, paying special attention to Avicenna's psychology and poetics and to the ways in which they influenced strains of theological, mystical, and literary thought in subsequent Islamicand Westernintellectual and religious history.Heath begins by showing how Avicenna's writings fit into the context and general history of Islamic allegory and explores the interaction among allegory, allegoresis, and philosophy in Avicenna's thought. He then provides a brief introduction to Avicenna as an historical figure. From there, he examines the ways in which Avicenna's cosmological, psychological, and epistemological theories find parallel, if diverse, expression in the disparate formats of philosophical and allegorical narration. Included in this book is an illustration of Avicenna's allegorical practice. This takes the form of a translation of the Mi'raj Nama (The Book of the Prophet Muhammad's Ascent to Heaven), a short treatise in Persian generally attributed to Avicenna.The text concludes with an investigation of the literary dimension Avicenna's allegorical theory and practice by examining his use of description metaphor. Allegory and Philosophy in Avicenna is an original and important work that breaks new ground by applying the techniques of modern literary criticism to the study of Medieval Islamic philosophy. It will be of interest to scholars and students of medieval Islamic and Western literature and philosophy.

Inhalt

Note on Transliteration and DatesList of AbbreviationsJournals and Reference WorksTitles of Works by AvicennaPrefacePART I. INTRODUCTION1. Avicenna and Islamic Allegory2. Avicenna: Courtier, Physician, PhilosopherPART II. ALLEGORY AND PHILOSOPHY3. The Structure and Representation of the Cosmos4. Avicenna's Theory of the Soul5. Avicenna's Theory of KnowledgePART III. THE MI'RÂJ NÂMA6. Translation of the Mi'râj Nâma7. The Translation of the Mi'râj Nâma (The Book of the ProphetMuhammad's Ascent to Heaven)PART IV. INTERPRETATION AND ALLEGORY7. The Interpretation and Function of Allegory8. Allegory and AllegoresisAPPENDICESAppendix A On AllegoryAppendix B On the Attribution of the Mi'râj NâmaAppendix C The ManuscriptsAppendix D The Text of Avicenna's Version of the Mi'râj (without his attendant commentary)BIBLIOGRAPHYINDEX

Produkt-Details

• Reihe/Serie: The Middle Ages Series
• Verlagsort: Philadelphia
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Essays / Feuilleton
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Allgemeines / Lexika
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Geschichte der Philosophie
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Östliche Philosophie
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Philosophie der Neuzeit
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Anglistik / Amerikanistik
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Literaturwissenschaft
• Themenwelt: Sozialwissenschaften ► Soziologie ► Spezielle Soziologien
• Schlagworte: African Studies • Asian Studies • Literature • Medieval and Renaissance Studies • Middle Eastern Studies • Philosophy • Religion • Religious Studies
• ISBN-10: 0-8122-0222-8 / 0812202228
• ISBN-13: 978-0-8122-0222-9 / 9780812202229