The Elements of Avicenna's Physics

This study is the first comprehensive analysis of the physical theory of the Islamic philosopher Avicenna (d. 1037). It seeks to understand his contribution against the developments within the preceding Greek and Arabic intellectual milieus, and to appreciate his philosophy as such by emphasising his independence as a critical and systematic thinker. Exploring Avicenna's method of "teaching and learning," it investigates the implications of his account of the natural body as a three-dimensionally extended composite of matter and form, and examines his views on nature as a principle of motion and his analysis of its relation to soul. Moreover, it demonstrates how Avicenna defends the Aristotelian conception of place against the strident criticism of his predecessors, among other things, by disproving the existence of void and space. Finally, it sheds new light on Avicenna's account of the essence and the existence of time. For the first time taking into account the entire range of Avicenna's major writings, this study fills a gap in our understanding both of the history of natural philosophy in general and of the philosophy of Avicenna in particular.

Author: Andreas Lammer
Publisher: de Gruyter
Published: 07/06/2020
Pages: 614
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 2.13lbs
Size: 9.61h x 6.69w x 1.24d
ISBN13: 9783110710199
ISBN10: 3110710196
BISAC Categories:
- Philosophy | History & Surveys | Ancient & Classical
- Literary Criticism | Ancient and Classical
- History | Ancient | General

About the Author

Andreas Lammer, LMU Munich, Germany.