Ibn Kammuna's Scientific Study of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Lukas Mühlethaler
Kommentar
This course explores the thought of Sa?d ibn Mansur Ibn Kammuna (d. 1284), a Jewish philosopher who conducted pioneering comparative studies of the three Abrahamic faiths in medieval Baghdad following the Mongol conquest. Through English translations of selected key works, we will examine Ibn Kammuna's contributions across three main areas: (1) Comparative Religion and Jewish Thought: In his "Examination of the Three Faiths", Ibn Kammuna employs an innovative method that blends philosophical reasoning with religious inquiry; in his analysis of Rabbanite and Karaite Judaism he demonstrates awareness of internal Jewish debates. (2) Ethics and Spiritual Practice: We will study Ibn Kammuna’s reflections on ethics and piety, as expressed in "Subtle Insights Concerning Knowledge and Practice" and "Establishing the First Principle". These works illuminate his theories of moral and spiritual development, building on this theory of the soul. (3) Theory of the Soul: Ibn Kammuna’s elaborate theory of the soul emerges in his treatises on the soul’s eternity, his philosophical commentaries on Avicenna and Suhrawardi, and his comprehensive philosophical summa. Neither knowledge of Arabic or Hebrew, nor prior familiarity with Arabic philosophy, are required to participate in the course.
Schließen9 Termine
Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung