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Socrates in Medieval Arabic Literature
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This book describes Socrates as he was depicted in medieval Arabic literature. The body of anecdotes, sayings and evaluations of Socrates existent in Arabic literature leads one to search for an explanation for the popularity of this ancient, Greek, pagan philosopher.
The author argues that Socrates played a role of legitimizing authority in the religious controversies between Christians and Muslims on the one hand and between the more rationalistic minded Muslims and the more traditionalistic ones on the other hand.
Thus, three approaches are encountered: those belonging to the non-fundamentalistic stream in Islam refer to Socrates as a prophet, historians such as ibn Fātik or ibn Abī Usaib‘ah, who relate to Socrates as an exemplary personality with tacit Islamic qualities. The third approach is that of orthodox writers such as al-Ghazālī who attack Socrates as a non-believer.
The author argues that Socrates played a role of legitimizing authority in the religious controversies between Christians and Muslims on the one hand and between the more rationalistic minded Muslims and the more traditionalistic ones on the other hand.
Thus, three approaches are encountered: those belonging to the non-fundamentalistic stream in Islam refer to Socrates as a prophet, historians such as ibn Fātik or ibn Abī Usaib‘ah, who relate to Socrates as an exemplary personality with tacit Islamic qualities. The third approach is that of orthodox writers such as al-Ghazālī who attack Socrates as a non-believer.
'Alon's masterly survey...presents a little known chapter in the history of the Socrates legend.'
J. Bussanich, Choice, 1992.
'...un ouvrage d'une belle qualité scientifique...'
Pierre Lory, Studia Islamica, 1993.
'...outstanding work...provides us with a novel way of looking at Graeco-Arabic relations and, beyond that, the intricate problems of culture building.'
Franz Rosenthal, Journal of the American Oriental Society, 1992.
'...étude originale et bien documentée.'
Revue des Sciences Philosophiques et Théologiques, 1992.
'Those working in Islamic studies will find this a valuable compendium...this is a unique study in the making of a Socratic image.'
Mark McPherran, Ancient Philosophy, 1993.
'...valuable book...will surely remain for a long time a classic in its field.'
Athanasios T. Fotopoulos, Journal Orient. Afr. St., 1992.
'...une matière très riche et clairement présentée...'
Abdallah Cheikh-Moussa, Arabica, 1993.
'...this work is valuable to any academic library.'
A.T. Kraabel, Religious Studies Review, 1994.
J. Bussanich, Choice, 1992.
'...un ouvrage d'une belle qualité scientifique...'
Pierre Lory, Studia Islamica, 1993.
'...outstanding work...provides us with a novel way of looking at Graeco-Arabic relations and, beyond that, the intricate problems of culture building.'
Franz Rosenthal, Journal of the American Oriental Society, 1992.
'...étude originale et bien documentée.'
Revue des Sciences Philosophiques et Théologiques, 1992.
'Those working in Islamic studies will find this a valuable compendium...this is a unique study in the making of a Socratic image.'
Mark McPherran, Ancient Philosophy, 1993.
'...valuable book...will surely remain for a long time a classic in its field.'
Athanasios T. Fotopoulos, Journal Orient. Afr. St., 1992.
'...une matière très riche et clairement présentée...'
Abdallah Cheikh-Moussa, Arabica, 1993.
'...this work is valuable to any academic library.'
A.T. Kraabel, Religious Studies Review, 1994.
students of medieval Arabic intellectual history, and of medieval Arabic religious history.