HISTORY OF ISLAMIC PHILOSOPHY

The History of Islamic Philosophy course is among the related or supplementary educational activities of the degree program.
It aims to introduce the fundamental elements in the history of classical Arab-Islamic theological and philosophical thought, as a necessary complement to the study of history, Islamology and Law of the Islamic area, disciplines also included in the course of study. "Classical Islam" is being specified because the period covered by the course in question encompasses approximately the 8th to 12th centuries, that is, from the time of the first theoretical debates and reception of Greek works, up to the articulate philosophical elaboration of Averroes (d. 1198 A.D.).
The main objective is to provide students with basic knowledge around the major themes and authors of the theological and philosophical tradition of classical Islam; an equally important objective is to make them aware of the theoretical interest of elaborations coming from a different cultural tradition; finally, especially thinking of students who have not received philosophical training in high school, the course aims to make them aware of the various ontological and ethical issues, and to educate them in the elaboration of a personal vision around the many questions concerning man and his place in the universe.

The aim is to equip students who complete the course with a good knowledge, albeit basic, of the major issues debated in the context of classical Arab-Islamic theological and philosophical thought, and the ability to highlight the most symptomatic figures in that context, through the identification of the peculiarities of each of them, that is, the aspects of thought that make each theologian or philosopher distinguishable and notable comparatively, within the discipline involved and the related schools of thought.
Students are also expected to be able to master the vocabulary of the discipline in question, both through understanding the Arabic terminology employed (e.g., tawhid, fasiq, "al-juz' alladhi là yatajazza'u," sabab, 'illa, etc.) and through understanding common theological and philosophical vocabulary (e.g., possible-necessary, essential and contingent, or cause-effect pairs).

There are no prerequisites for the History of Islamic Philosophy course, although the course is easier for those who have already received philosophical training.

Terminology of Arab-Islamic theological and philosophical study.
The development of falsafa and dialectical theology (kalām) from the encounter with the Syriac, Hellenic and Persian worlds.
Dialectical theology and the identification of the main debated issues (e.g., the relationship between faith and deeds; between divine determinism and -relative- human free will) and the most symptomatic figures (among the traditionalists, the mu'tazilites, the ash'ariti-maturidites, up to al-Ghazali and Ibn Taymiyya.
Sufism.
Greek atomism and its reworking in the Islamic sphere.
Islamo-Christian controversy and the stimuli provided by Christian thinkers to Muslim apologists.
Al-Kindī (d. c. 870 CE), "the philosopher of the Arabs."
Al-Rāzī (d. ante 935 CE).
al-Fārābī (d. 950 AD).
Avicenna/Ibn Sīnā (d. 1037 AD).
Andalusian thinkers: Avempace/Ibn Bajja (d. 1139 AD); Ibn Ṭufayl (d. 1185 AD); and finally Averroes/Ibn Rushd (d. 1198 AD).

To test the learning of attending students, the lecturer begins each lecture with questions on the content of the previous lectures, soliciting questions on any basic deficiencies or lack of understanding of the topics covered.
The final check consists of a conversation with the lecturer on a topic of the student's choice and additional topics, suggested by the lecturer, and related to the topics covered during the lectures.

Lectures by the lecturer. At the end of each lecture, classroom discussion of topics covered. At the beginning of each lecture, reprise of topics covered in the previous lecture. One or more seminars are planned, by colleagues who are experts in the subjects covered (e.g., Sufism) and from other universities, Italian or foreign.

Italian

oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development