Arguments for God's Existence in Classical Islamic Thought

Arguments for God's Existence in Classical Islamic Thought

Author: Hannah C. Erlwein

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2019-07-22

Total Pages: 490

ISBN-13: 3110617919

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The endeavour to prove God’s existence through rational argumentation was an integral part of classical Islamic theology (kalām) and philosophy (falsafa), thus the frequently articulated assumption in the academic literature. The Islamic discourse in question is then often compared to the discourse on arguments for God’s existence in the western tradition, not only in terms of its objectives but also in terms of the arguments used: Islamic thinkers, too, put forward arguments that have been labelled as cosmological, teleological, and ontological. This book, however, argues that arguments for God’s existence are absent from the theological and philosophical works of the classical Islamic era. This is not to say that the arguments encountered there are flawed arguments for God’s existence. Rather, it means that the arguments under consideration serve a different purpose than to prove that God exists. Through a close reading of the works of several mutakallimūn and falāsifa from the 3rd‒7th/9th‒13th century, such as al-Bāqillānī and Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī as well as Ibn Sīnā and Ibn Rushd, this book proffers a re-evaluation of the discourse in question, and it suggests what its participants sought to prove if it is not that God exists.


Book Synopsis Arguments for God's Existence in Classical Islamic Thought by : Hannah C. Erlwein

Download or read book Arguments for God's Existence in Classical Islamic Thought written by Hannah C. Erlwein and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2019-07-22 with total page 490 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The endeavour to prove God’s existence through rational argumentation was an integral part of classical Islamic theology (kalām) and philosophy (falsafa), thus the frequently articulated assumption in the academic literature. The Islamic discourse in question is then often compared to the discourse on arguments for God’s existence in the western tradition, not only in terms of its objectives but also in terms of the arguments used: Islamic thinkers, too, put forward arguments that have been labelled as cosmological, teleological, and ontological. This book, however, argues that arguments for God’s existence are absent from the theological and philosophical works of the classical Islamic era. This is not to say that the arguments encountered there are flawed arguments for God’s existence. Rather, it means that the arguments under consideration serve a different purpose than to prove that God exists. Through a close reading of the works of several mutakallimūn and falāsifa from the 3rd‒7th/9th‒13th century, such as al-Bāqillānī and Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī as well as Ibn Sīnā and Ibn Rushd, this book proffers a re-evaluation of the discourse in question, and it suggests what its participants sought to prove if it is not that God exists.

Arguments for God's Existence in Classical Islamic Thought

Arguments for God's Existence in Classical Islamic Thought

Author: Hannah C. Erlwein

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2019-07-22

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 3110619563

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The endeavour to prove God’s existence through rational argumentation was an integral part of classical Islamic theology (kalām) and philosophy (falsafa), thus the frequently articulated assumption in the academic literature. The Islamic discourse in question is then often compared to the discourse on arguments for God’s existence in the western tradition, not only in terms of its objectives but also in terms of the arguments used: Islamic thinkers, too, put forward arguments that have been labelled as cosmological, teleological, and ontological. This book, however, argues that arguments for God’s existence are absent from the theological and philosophical works of the classical Islamic era. This is not to say that the arguments encountered there are flawed arguments for God’s existence. Rather, it means that the arguments under consideration serve a different purpose than to prove that God exists. Through a close reading of the works of several mutakallimūn and falāsifa from the 3rd‒7th/9th‒13th century, such as al-Bāqillānī and Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī as well as Ibn Sīnā and Ibn Rushd, this book proffers a re-evaluation of the discourse in question, and it suggests what its participants sought to prove if it is not that God exists.


Book Synopsis Arguments for God's Existence in Classical Islamic Thought by : Hannah C. Erlwein

Download or read book Arguments for God's Existence in Classical Islamic Thought written by Hannah C. Erlwein and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2019-07-22 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The endeavour to prove God’s existence through rational argumentation was an integral part of classical Islamic theology (kalām) and philosophy (falsafa), thus the frequently articulated assumption in the academic literature. The Islamic discourse in question is then often compared to the discourse on arguments for God’s existence in the western tradition, not only in terms of its objectives but also in terms of the arguments used: Islamic thinkers, too, put forward arguments that have been labelled as cosmological, teleological, and ontological. This book, however, argues that arguments for God’s existence are absent from the theological and philosophical works of the classical Islamic era. This is not to say that the arguments encountered there are flawed arguments for God’s existence. Rather, it means that the arguments under consideration serve a different purpose than to prove that God exists. Through a close reading of the works of several mutakallimūn and falāsifa from the 3rd‒7th/9th‒13th century, such as al-Bāqillānī and Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī as well as Ibn Sīnā and Ibn Rushd, this book proffers a re-evaluation of the discourse in question, and it suggests what its participants sought to prove if it is not that God exists.

The Cambridge Companion to Classical Islamic Theology

The Cambridge Companion to Classical Islamic Theology

Author: Tim Winter

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2008-05-22

Total Pages: 309

ISBN-13: 1107494419

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This series of critical reflections on the evolution and major themes of pre-modern Muslim theology begins with the revelation of the Koran, and extends to the beginnings of modernity in the eighteenth century. The significance of Islamic theology reflects the immense importance of Islam in the history of monotheism, to which it has brought a unique approach and style, and a range of solutions which are of abiding interest. Devoting especial attention to questions of rationality, scriptural fidelity, and the construction of 'orthodoxy', this volume introduces key Muslim theories of revelation, creation, ethics, scriptural interpretation, law, mysticism, and eschatology. Throughout the treatment is firmly set in the historical, social and political context in which Islam's distinctive understanding of God evolved. Despite its importance, Islamic theology has been neglected in recent scholarship, and this book provides a unique, scholarly but accessible introduction.


Book Synopsis The Cambridge Companion to Classical Islamic Theology by : Tim Winter

Download or read book The Cambridge Companion to Classical Islamic Theology written by Tim Winter and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2008-05-22 with total page 309 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This series of critical reflections on the evolution and major themes of pre-modern Muslim theology begins with the revelation of the Koran, and extends to the beginnings of modernity in the eighteenth century. The significance of Islamic theology reflects the immense importance of Islam in the history of monotheism, to which it has brought a unique approach and style, and a range of solutions which are of abiding interest. Devoting especial attention to questions of rationality, scriptural fidelity, and the construction of 'orthodoxy', this volume introduces key Muslim theories of revelation, creation, ethics, scriptural interpretation, law, mysticism, and eschatology. Throughout the treatment is firmly set in the historical, social and political context in which Islam's distinctive understanding of God evolved. Despite its importance, Islamic theology has been neglected in recent scholarship, and this book provides a unique, scholarly but accessible introduction.

Philosophy in the Islamic World: A Very Short Introduction

Philosophy in the Islamic World: A Very Short Introduction

Author: Peter Adamson

Publisher: OUP Oxford

Published: 2015-09-24

Total Pages: 144

ISBN-13: 0191506591

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In the history of philosophy, few topics are so relevant to today's cultural and political landscape as philosophy in the Islamic world. Yet, this remains one of the lesser-known philosophical traditions. In this Very Short Introduction, Peter Adamson explores the history of philosophy among Muslims, Jews, and Christians living in Islamic lands, from its historical background to thinkers in the twentieth century. Introducing the main philosophical themes of the Islamic world, Adamson integrates ideas from the Islamic and Abrahamic faiths to consider the broad philosophical questions that continue to invite debate: What is the relationship between reason and religious belief? What is the possibility of proving God's existence? What is the nature of knowledge? Drawing on the most recent research in the field, this book challenges the assumption of the cultural decline of philosophy and science in the Islamic world by demonstrating its rich heritage and overlap with other faiths and philosophies.


Book Synopsis Philosophy in the Islamic World: A Very Short Introduction by : Peter Adamson

Download or read book Philosophy in the Islamic World: A Very Short Introduction written by Peter Adamson and published by OUP Oxford. This book was released on 2015-09-24 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the history of philosophy, few topics are so relevant to today's cultural and political landscape as philosophy in the Islamic world. Yet, this remains one of the lesser-known philosophical traditions. In this Very Short Introduction, Peter Adamson explores the history of philosophy among Muslims, Jews, and Christians living in Islamic lands, from its historical background to thinkers in the twentieth century. Introducing the main philosophical themes of the Islamic world, Adamson integrates ideas from the Islamic and Abrahamic faiths to consider the broad philosophical questions that continue to invite debate: What is the relationship between reason and religious belief? What is the possibility of proving God's existence? What is the nature of knowledge? Drawing on the most recent research in the field, this book challenges the assumption of the cultural decline of philosophy and science in the Islamic world by demonstrating its rich heritage and overlap with other faiths and philosophies.

The Cambridge History of Medieval Philosophy 2 Volume Boxed Set

The Cambridge History of Medieval Philosophy 2 Volume Boxed Set

Author: Robert Pasnau

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2009-12-17

Total Pages: 1242

ISBN-13: 9780521866729

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The Cambridge History of Medieval Philosophy comprises over fifty specially commissioned essays by experts on the philosophy of this period. Starting in the late eighth century, with the renewal of learning some centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire, a sequence of chapters take the reader through developments in many and varied fields, including logic and language, natural philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, and theology. Close attention is paid to the context of medieval philosophy, with discussions of the rise of the universities and developments in the cultural and linguistic spheres. A striking feature is the continuous coverage of Islamic, Jewish, and Christian material. There are useful biographies of the philosophers, and a comprehensive bibliography. The volume illuminates a rich and remarkable period in the history of philosophy and will be the authoritative source on medieval philosophy for the next generation of scholars and students alike.


Book Synopsis The Cambridge History of Medieval Philosophy 2 Volume Boxed Set by : Robert Pasnau

Download or read book The Cambridge History of Medieval Philosophy 2 Volume Boxed Set written by Robert Pasnau and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2009-12-17 with total page 1242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Cambridge History of Medieval Philosophy comprises over fifty specially commissioned essays by experts on the philosophy of this period. Starting in the late eighth century, with the renewal of learning some centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire, a sequence of chapters take the reader through developments in many and varied fields, including logic and language, natural philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, and theology. Close attention is paid to the context of medieval philosophy, with discussions of the rise of the universities and developments in the cultural and linguistic spheres. A striking feature is the continuous coverage of Islamic, Jewish, and Christian material. There are useful biographies of the philosophers, and a comprehensive bibliography. The volume illuminates a rich and remarkable period in the history of philosophy and will be the authoritative source on medieval philosophy for the next generation of scholars and students alike.

Islamic Thought on the Existence of God

Islamic Thought on the Existence of God

Author: Cafer S. Yaran

Publisher: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781565181922

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Book Synopsis Islamic Thought on the Existence of God by : Cafer S. Yaran

Download or read book Islamic Thought on the Existence of God written by Cafer S. Yaran and published by Council for Research in Values and Philosophy. This book was released on 2003 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Proofs for the Existence of God

Proofs for the Existence of God

Author: Christian Kanzian

Publisher:

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 180

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis Proofs for the Existence of God by : Christian Kanzian

Download or read book Proofs for the Existence of God written by Christian Kanzian and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Proofs for Eternity, Creation, and the Existence of God in Medieval Islamic and Jewish Philosophy

Proofs for Eternity, Creation, and the Existence of God in Medieval Islamic and Jewish Philosophy

Author: Herbert Alan Davidson

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 1987

Total Pages: 456

ISBN-13:

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The central debate of natural theology among medieval Muslims and Jews concerned whether or not the world was eternal. Opinions divided sharply on this issue because the outcome bore directly on God's relationship with the world: eternity implies a deity bereft of will, while a world with a beginning leads to the contrasting picture of a deity possessed of will. In this exhaustive study of medieval Islamic and Jewish arguments for eternity, creation, and the existence of God, Herbert Davidson provides a systematic classification of the proofs, analyzes and explains them, and traces their sources in Greek philosophy. Throughout the study, Davidson tries to take into account every argument of a philosophical character, disregarding only those arguments that rest entirely on religious faith or which fall below a minimal level of plausibility.


Book Synopsis Proofs for Eternity, Creation, and the Existence of God in Medieval Islamic and Jewish Philosophy by : Herbert Alan Davidson

Download or read book Proofs for Eternity, Creation, and the Existence of God in Medieval Islamic and Jewish Philosophy written by Herbert Alan Davidson and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 1987 with total page 456 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The central debate of natural theology among medieval Muslims and Jews concerned whether or not the world was eternal. Opinions divided sharply on this issue because the outcome bore directly on God's relationship with the world: eternity implies a deity bereft of will, while a world with a beginning leads to the contrasting picture of a deity possessed of will. In this exhaustive study of medieval Islamic and Jewish arguments for eternity, creation, and the existence of God, Herbert Davidson provides a systematic classification of the proofs, analyzes and explains them, and traces their sources in Greek philosophy. Throughout the study, Davidson tries to take into account every argument of a philosophical character, disregarding only those arguments that rest entirely on religious faith or which fall below a minimal level of plausibility.

The Kalam Cosmological Argument, Volume 1

The Kalam Cosmological Argument, Volume 1

Author: Paul Copan

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2017-11-16

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 1501330799

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Did the universe begin to exist? If so, did it have a cause? Or could it have come into existence uncaused, from nothing? These questions are taken up by the medieval-though recently-revived-kalam cosmological argument, which has arguably been the most discussed philosophical argument for God's existence in recent decades. The kalam's line of reasoning maintains that the series of past events cannot be infinite but rather is finite. Since the universe could not have come into being uncaused, there must be a transcendent cause of the universe's beginning, a conclusion supportive of theism. This anthology on the philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past asks: Is an infinite series of past events metaphysically possible? Should actual infinites be restricted to theoretical mathematics, or can an actual infinite exist in the concrete world? These essays by kalam proponents and detractors engage in lively debate about the nature of infinity and its conundrums; about frequently-used kalam argument paradoxes of Tristram Shandy, the Grim Reaper, and Hilbert's Hotel; and about the infinity of the future.


Book Synopsis The Kalam Cosmological Argument, Volume 1 by : Paul Copan

Download or read book The Kalam Cosmological Argument, Volume 1 written by Paul Copan and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2017-11-16 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Did the universe begin to exist? If so, did it have a cause? Or could it have come into existence uncaused, from nothing? These questions are taken up by the medieval-though recently-revived-kalam cosmological argument, which has arguably been the most discussed philosophical argument for God's existence in recent decades. The kalam's line of reasoning maintains that the series of past events cannot be infinite but rather is finite. Since the universe could not have come into being uncaused, there must be a transcendent cause of the universe's beginning, a conclusion supportive of theism. This anthology on the philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past asks: Is an infinite series of past events metaphysically possible? Should actual infinites be restricted to theoretical mathematics, or can an actual infinite exist in the concrete world? These essays by kalam proponents and detractors engage in lively debate about the nature of infinity and its conundrums; about frequently-used kalam argument paradoxes of Tristram Shandy, the Grim Reaper, and Hilbert's Hotel; and about the infinity of the future.

Reasonable Faith

Reasonable Faith

Author: William Lane Craig

Publisher: Crossway

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 418

ISBN-13: 1433501155

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This updated edition by one of the world's leading apologists presents a systematic, positive case for Christianity that reflects the latest work in the contemporary hard sciences and humanities. Brilliant and accessible.


Book Synopsis Reasonable Faith by : William Lane Craig

Download or read book Reasonable Faith written by William Lane Craig and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2008 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This updated edition by one of the world's leading apologists presents a systematic, positive case for Christianity that reflects the latest work in the contemporary hard sciences and humanities. Brilliant and accessible.