People interested in Islamic philosophy or who have received training on the subject must have heard the name of Ibn Rushd. In fact, these people are reading the life of Ibn Rushd in the field of Islamic philosophy. He is also well acquainted with his works and his views on Islamic philosophy.
Who is Ibn Rushd?
Ibn Rushd is an Arabic philosopher. The philosophical period of this person coincides with the period of Islamic philosophy. At the same time, Ibn Rushd had the professions of doctor, philosopher, mathematician, medicine man and jurisprudence.
Ibn Rushd was born in Cordoba. He died in Marrakech, Morocco. While April 14, 1126 gives the date of birth, December 10, 1198 gives the date of death. As we can see from the dates, Ibn Rushd died at the age of 72.
The most important feature of Ibn Rushd is that he reintroduced Aristotle to Europe. He completed this introductory process with his translations and interpretations. As is well known, peripatetics in Islamic philosophy is the Aristotelian movement. The representative and pioneer of this movement is also known as Ibn Rushd.
The name Ebū’l-Walīd Muḥammad ibn Aḥmed ibn Muḥammed ibn Rushd gives us the full name of Ibn Rushd, i.e. its unabridged form.
The Life of Ibn Rushd
Ibn Rushd began his educational life by being tutored by respected teachers who were in a rich scientific and cultural environment due to the positions held by his grandfather and father.
Hence, it can be said that Ibn Rushd first learned basic religion from his father. In addition to basic religious studies, he also received training in various fields. These include mathematics, physics, logic, politics, philosophy, psychology, medicine, literature, ethics, politics, zoology and natural sciences.
Ibn Rushd was the chief judge. This shows how strong his religious knowledge is. At the same time, Ibn Rushd assumed responsibility as the Caliph’s personal physician. This shows his knowledge in the field of medicine. Ibn Rushd wrote notes on Aristotle’s works at the caliph’s request. This proves his knowledge in the field of philosophy.
Ibn Rushd philosophy
Ibn Rushd is one of the most important exponents of the Peripatetic school of Islamic philosophy. Accordingly, in his philosophical views, Ibn Rushd established an absolute relationship between the knowledge of God and existence. His philosophy of thought is that the knowledge of God is the cause of existence. Ibn Rushd accepts this idea as God’s knowledge of himself.
Ibn Rushd works and books
Ibn Rushd produced more than 150 works in different fields. These works that he wrote exist in many fields such as religion, philosophy, law, medicine and politics. Here are the works of Ibn Rushd namely his books along with their areas:
His work on medicine, Kitabu’l-Külliyat
His work on Kalam, Faslü’l-Makal
Tehafutü’t – Tehafut, the philosophical work written as a refutation of Gazzali’s Tehafut
His work on mathematics and astronomy articles fi Cevheri’l-Felek
The commentary on Plato’s political work Telhisu Kitabi’l-Cumhuriyye
His work on Fiqh, Bidayetü’l-Muctehid ve Zenginü’l-Muqtasid
His metaphysical work Telhisu Maba’det-Tabia
Sayings of Ibn Rushd
If you examine the words of Ibn Rushd, you come across some quite remarkable and impressive words. Here are the most important words of Ibn Rushd:
Anyone who does not understand art does not know the work of art and cannot know the artist.
Wherever we are, knowledge is our homeland, ignorance is a foreign place.
Knowledge is the harmony of the object with the mind.
Truth cannot contradict truth, but can be compatible with it.
Ideas have wings, nobody can stop them from reaching people
