| Synopsis: |
There has been a long tradition of interest in philosophy in the Islamic world, and it is the aim of these volumes to represent the lives of some of the major thinkers within this tradition. The notion of philosophy has been interpreted broadly to include a large number of intellectuals who were interested in conceptual issues that either directly relate to philosophy or form part of the background of Islamic philosophy as a whole. Included are details about the lives of significant legal thinkers, theologians, political thinkers and even geographers, where their lives are relevant indicators of the progress of philosophy in the Islamic world. The emphasis is on those who have worked on what is widely regarded as philosophy, and all the traditions of Islamic philosophy are well represented, including Peripatetic (mashsha'l), illuminationist (ishraqi) and sufi thought. All parts of the Islamic world have been covered, including South East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.In working on this project the contributors have followed a long tradition in Islamic culture of compiling biographies of Islamic personalities, in particular thinkers, which allow the reader to grasp aspects not only of their thought but of their lives. The Dictionary represents a landmark achievement in the understanding of Islamic philosophy, at a time when such understanding is needed as never before. This set is to become an indispensable reference work for students of Islamic and comparative philosophy. |