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Shihadeh, Ayman (2016) 'Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī's Commentary on Avicenna's Pointers : The Confluence of Exegesis and Aporetics.' In: El-Rouayheb, Khaled and Schmidtke, Sabine, (eds.), Oxford Handbook of Islamic Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (Oxford Handbooks)

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Abstract

This chapter argues against the prevalent reductionist reading of Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī’s criticism of Avicennan doctrines in his philosophical works as a mere theologically motivated refutation. It proposes that when read in context, his famous commentary on Avicenna’s Pointers (Ishārāt) emerges as a confluence of the two classical genres of exegetical commentary (sharḥ, tafsīr) and aporetic commentary (shukūk), and as such perfectly typifies its author’s method of critical investigation. Al-Rāzī contrasts this method with both the uncritical traditionalism promoted by mainstream Avicennists and the fixation on refutation among contemporary counter-Avicennists. To support this new reading, the chapter examines two discussions in the commentary: one on Avicenna’s theory of prime matter and corporeity, and another on his concurrentist account of creation.

Item Type: Book Chapters
Keywords: Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Avicenna, Pointers and Remarks, Sharḥ al-Ishārāt wa-l-tanbīhāt, philosophical commentary, aporetic commentary, Sharaf al-Dīn al-Masʿūdī, Prime Matter, concurrentism, efficient causation
SOAS Departments & Centres: Departments and Subunits > School of History, Religions & Philosophies > Department of History
Legacy Departments > Faculty of Languages and Cultures > Department of the Languages and Cultures of the Near and Middle East
ISBN: 9780199917389
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199917389.013.12
Date Deposited: 12 Dec 2013 12:12
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/17812

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