S.H Nasr and M. Aminrazavi compiled a very good anthology. This anthology includes works that range from different movements and different styles of writing. The umbrella holding unifying these is their connection Ismaili philosophy and their association with Shia philosophies of hermeneutics and Shia Neoplatonism. Examples of texts included in the anthology works such as Umm al- Kitab, the Mother of Books, Jabir Ibn Ahjar's The Book of Stones, Hamid al-Din Kirmani's Repose of the Intellect, Rasa'il Ilkhwan al Safa's On Natural Numbers. There are many more. The collection involves text from what is now the Republic of Iran, Azerbaijan, Egypt, and what is now Turkey. The collection involves a mix of texts from early attempts by Shia sects to justify Twelver theology through philosophy, Samanid control of the northern coastal areas of Iran , to later works written by the time of the Selujk Empire.
Many of these texts capture a mixture of the religious and historical philosophical nature of their texts but this poses problems for a person reading them outside of the religion. It is possible to see some developmental changes in thought throughout the works especially in large issues such as how the neo-platonist view of the intellect changed into a differing model. It is impossible to fault the text though because it would be difficult to capture a philosophical history and history of religion that would provide background for these philosophical works. A little foreword on the issues of revelation as understood by some of the groups would have been good to help understand some of the philosophical developments and trajectory. Overall, it is a good book for philosophy of history because it captures a rarely studied era and shows that not all philosophy of this period was scholastic and shows how religion and philosophy related to each other. The text makes good use of relevant Arabic and Farsi philosophical and theological concepts but a person unaware of them may not connect them if they are unfamiliar with materials referenced.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
