Philosophy Department

Islamic Philosophy
(PHLU 3754)

Morewedge

This course is an historical introduction to Islamic philosophy; it covers the theoretical foundations of Islamic theories of love and mysticism, as well as the global politics of revolution and the issue of the clash vs. the dialogue among Western and Islamic cultures. We will study the influences of Muslim thinkers on Catholic theologians, such as Aquinas, who mentions Avicenna over five hundred times, and explore similarities between Islamic- Zoroastrian traditions and Nietzsche's notion of the "will to power." Lectures and discussions will compare Muslim and Western philosophers, e.g., Avicenna, Mulla Sadra, and Heidegger on "being"; Tusi, Wittgenstein and Carnap on "philosophical analysis"; and Plotinus, Mulla Sadra, Hegel and Whitehead on "process metaphysics." No background in Islam or philosophy is required.

 

The Ka'ba in the Holy Mosque at Mecca

Avicenna