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Models of Desire in Graeco-Arabic Philosophy
From Plotinus to Ibn Ṭufayl
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This study argues that late ancient Greek and medieval Islamic philosophers interpret human desire along two frameworks in reaction to Aristotleâs philosophy. The investigation of the model dichotomy unfolds historically from the philosophy of Plotinus through the Graeco-Arabic translation movement in 8th-10th century Baghdad to 12th century al-Andalus with the philosophy of Ibn BÄǧǧa and Ibn Ṭufayl.
Diverging on desireâs inherent or non-inherent relation to the desiring subject, the two models reveal that the desireâs role can orient opposed accounts of human perfection: logically-structured demonstrative knowledge versus an ineffable witnessing of the truth. Understanding desire along these models, philosophers incorporated supra-rational aspects into philosophical accounts of the human being.
Diverging on desireâs inherent or non-inherent relation to the desiring subject, the two models reveal that the desireâs role can orient opposed accounts of human perfection: logically-structured demonstrative knowledge versus an ineffable witnessing of the truth. Understanding desire along these models, philosophers incorporated supra-rational aspects into philosophical accounts of the human being.
Bethany Somma, Ph.D (2018), is a postdoc at the LMU Munich. Their research focuses on psychology, ethics, and animals in ancient Greek philosophy and philosophy of the Islamic world.
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction: Desire and Its Models
â1âMethodology
â2âThe Two Models and the Human Goal
â3âStructure and Scope
1 An Inherent Model of Desire: Plotinus on Desire for the Good
â1âTerminology of Desire
â2âDesire in the General Structure of Reality
â3âDesire in Intellect
â4âDesire in Soul
â5âDesire in Judgments and Action
â6âWhat Does It Mean to Desire the Good?
â7âBeing Good-Like
â8âBecoming like the Good
â9âFormless Desire
2 The Plotiniana Arabica and Desireâs Discontents
â1âDesire in Intellect
â2âSoulâs Desire of Intellect
â3âSoul and Bodyâs Desire
â4âAssimilation and the Ethical Implications of Soulâs Procession
â5âVirtue and the Return
â6âAvicenna on the Theology of Aristotle
3 Aristotle and al-FÄrÄbÄ« on Desire
â1âAristotle on Desire
â2âAl-FÄrÄbÄ« on Desire
â3âAl-FÄrÄbÄ« on Aristotle on Desire
â4âModels of Desire in Aristotle and al-FÄrÄbÄ«
4 Ibn BÄǧǧa on Desire and Conceptualization
â1âDesire in the Soul
â2âDesire in the Human Being
â3âStriving Soul and the Body
â4âIbn BÄǧǧa on al-Ä azalÄ« and the Sufis
â5âHuman Excellence and Desire
5 Ibn Ṭufayl: Situating Ḥayy Ibn YaqáºÄn
â1âThe Purpose and Methodology of the Text
â2âIbn Ṭufayl on His Influences
â3âOrigins and Orientation
6 The Desire Inherent to Ibn Ṭufaylâs Ḥayy Ibn YaqáºÄn
â1âḤayyâs Desire
â2âIbn Ṭufaylâs Interpretation of Avicenna and al-Ä azÄlÄ« on Desire
â3âAppetite and Dissection
â4âHolistic Goal of Ḥayyâs Education
â5âSubject of Education, Subject of Desire
Conclusion: Modelling the Study
â1âDrawing the Boundaries of the Book
â2âIbn BÄǧǧa and Ibn Ṭufayl: Modelling Good Desire
Bibliography
Index
Abbreviations
Introduction: Desire and Its Models
â1âMethodology
â2âThe Two Models and the Human Goal
â3âStructure and Scope
1 An Inherent Model of Desire: Plotinus on Desire for the Good
â1âTerminology of Desire
â2âDesire in the General Structure of Reality
â3âDesire in Intellect
â4âDesire in Soul
â5âDesire in Judgments and Action
â6âWhat Does It Mean to Desire the Good?
â7âBeing Good-Like
â8âBecoming like the Good
â9âFormless Desire
2 The Plotiniana Arabica and Desireâs Discontents
â1âDesire in Intellect
â2âSoulâs Desire of Intellect
â3âSoul and Bodyâs Desire
â4âAssimilation and the Ethical Implications of Soulâs Procession
â5âVirtue and the Return
â6âAvicenna on the Theology of Aristotle
3 Aristotle and al-FÄrÄbÄ« on Desire
â1âAristotle on Desire
â2âAl-FÄrÄbÄ« on Desire
â3âAl-FÄrÄbÄ« on Aristotle on Desire
â4âModels of Desire in Aristotle and al-FÄrÄbÄ«
4 Ibn BÄǧǧa on Desire and Conceptualization
â1âDesire in the Soul
â2âDesire in the Human Being
â3âStriving Soul and the Body
â4âIbn BÄǧǧa on al-Ä azalÄ« and the Sufis
â5âHuman Excellence and Desire
5 Ibn Ṭufayl: Situating Ḥayy Ibn YaqáºÄn
â1âThe Purpose and Methodology of the Text
â2âIbn Ṭufayl on His Influences
â3âOrigins and Orientation
6 The Desire Inherent to Ibn Ṭufaylâs Ḥayy Ibn YaqáºÄn
â1âḤayyâs Desire
â2âIbn Ṭufaylâs Interpretation of Avicenna and al-Ä azÄlÄ« on Desire
â3âAppetite and Dissection
â4âHolistic Goal of Ḥayyâs Education
â5âSubject of Education, Subject of Desire
Conclusion: Modelling the Study
â1âDrawing the Boundaries of the Book
â2âIbn BÄǧǧa and Ibn Ṭufayl: Modelling Good Desire
Bibliography
Index
All interested in Philosophy of the Islamic world, ancient Greek philosophy, late ancient philosophy, and medieval philosophy, and anyone interested in perspectives on the role of desire in ethics and anthropology.