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The tradition of philosophy in the Persian-speaking world is extraordinarily rich, creative and diverse. This anthology, which is divided into five volumes, aims to communicate something of that richness and diversity. The term philosophy is understood to in its widest sense to include theological debate, philosophical Sufism and philosophical hermeneutics (岳温幣敬朝鉛The elucidation of the inner or esoteric meaning, b畊in , from the literal wording or apparent meaning of a text, ritual or religious prescription.). Extending over a period of more than two millennia, and showcasing translations by well-established scholars, the anthology offers full bibliographical references throughout. For anyone interested in exploring, in all their varied manifestations, the fascinating philosophical traditions of Persia, such a wide-ranging and ambitious work will be an indispensable resource. Volume 1 starts with the Zoroastrian period and extends to the time of Biruni and Omar Khayyam, paying special attention to the peripatetic school associated with Ibn Sina (Avicenna). During the pre-Islamic period philosophy was intertwined with religion, and it is within Persian religious texts such as the “Gathas”, the “Denkard”, and the Zoroastrian texts of the “Bundahisn” that philosophical discussions of subjects ranging from metaphysics to cosmology and eschatology are to be found.
Preface M. Aminrazavi
List of Reprinted Works
Note on Transliteration
List of Contributors
Prolegomenon, S. H. Nasr
Part I. Early Persian Philosophy: Zoroastrian Thought
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
1. The Original Creation (from 京顎稼糸温鞄庄邸稼)
2. Greater 京顎稼糸温鞄庄邸稼
3. The Answers of Man笛skihar (from Ddistn-i D朝n朝k)
4. Opinions of the Spirit of Wisdom (from D朝n-i Ma朝nog-i Khirad)
5. Selected Readings
6. Exegesis of the Good Religion (from 禽擢稼一温姻糸 VI)
Part II. Early Persian Philosophy: Manichaeism
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
7. Central Principles (from the Kephalaia)
Part III. Early Islamic Philosophy: The Peripatetics
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
8. Abul-平Abbs Mu畍ammad 暢rnshahr朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
The Ideas of 暢rnshahr朝 (from Zd al-musfir朝n)
9. Ab笛 Na畊r Frb朝
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
A Paraphrase of Aristotles Analytica Posteriora (from Kitb al-burhn)
A Reconciliation of the Opinions of the Two Sages, Divine Plato and Aristotle (from Kitb al-jam平 bayn ra幣yay al-畍akimayn Afl畊笛n al-ilh朝 wa Aris畊笛 )
The Perfect State (from Mabdi幣 r幣 ahl al-mad朝nat al-f畍ilah)
10. Abul-畍asan 平Amir朝
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Knowledge and the Religious Sciences (from al-I平lm bi manqib al-Islm)
On the Soul and its Fate (from al-Amad 平alal-abad)
11. Ab笛 Sulaymn Sijistn朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Philosophical Treatises (珂顎畊a稼稼温韓偵岳)
12. Ibn S朝n
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Metaphysics (from Dnish-nmah-yi 平al幣朝 )
Creation Ex-Nihilo and Immediate Creation (from al-Ishrt wal-tanb朝ht)
On Theodicy and Providence I (from 温鉛-皆鞄庄韓偵幣)
On Theodicy and Providence II (from al-Ishrt wal-tanb朝ht )
On Time (from 温鉛-皆鞄庄韓偵幣 )
The Stations of the Knowers (from al-Ishrt wal-tanb朝ht )
Living Son of the Awake (from Rislah 畍ayy ibn Yaq畉n )
Introduction (from Man畊iq al-mashraqiyy朝n )
13. Ab笛 平Al朝 A畍mad ibn Mu畍ammad Miskawayh
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Perennial Philosophy (Wisdom) (from al-畍ikmat al-khlidah or 干偵敬朝糸偵稼-一鞄庄姻温糸)
The Health of the Soul (from Tahdh朝b al-akhlq)
14. Bahmanyr ibn Marzbn
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Authors Foreword (from Kitb al-ta畍メ坑朝l)
Part IV. Early Islamic Philosophy: The Independent Philosophers
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
15. Ab笛 Bakr Mu畍ammad ibn Zakariyy幣 Rz朝
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Of the Excellence and Praise of Reason (from al-畊ibb al-r笛畍ツn朝)
The Book of the Philosophic Life (from al-S朝rat al-falsafiyyah)
16. Ab笛 Ray畍ツn B朝r笛n朝
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
The Belief of the Hindus in God (from Ta畍q朝q m lil-Hind)
Questions and Answers (from al-As幣ilah wal-ajwibah)
17. 平Umr Khayym
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
The Necessity of Contradiction, Free Will and Determinism (畍ar笛rat al-ta畍dd fil-平lam wal-jabr wal-baq幣)
Universals of Existence (悪顎鉛鉛庄霞霞偵岳-庄 敬顎逮笛糸A metaphysical term meaning ‘existence’, employed by philosophically-inclined thinkers such as al-Frb朝 (d. ca. 950), Ibn Rushd (d. 1198), al-Suhraward朝 and Mull 畊adr (d. 1050/1640). According to Ibn Sina (d…. )
Select Bibliography
Index
Seyyed Hossein Nasr is University Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University. He is the author of over 300 articles and thirty books, and has lectured widely on Islamic philosophy.
Mehdi Aminrazavi is the author and editor of numerous books and articles, and is currently Professor of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Mary Washington, where he directs the Middle Eastern Studies Program.