Ibn Rushd (Averrroes)

Category
People (Philosophy)
Begin
1126
End
1198
Region
Islamic Empire
Reference
Excerpts from Books and Wikipedia
"Ibn Rushd was known to the Latins as Averroes, but his explanations of Aristotelian philosophy were so fundamental to the West's emerging understanding of science, nature, and metaphysics that he was commonly referred to simply as the Commentator." [Lyons: House of Wisdom, p. 173] "For the first time Aristotle emerged as he had been, and when the commentaries of Ibn-Rushd were put into Latin the Western world came to know the true Aristotle. The profound effect of this discovery was reflected in the Thomism of St. Thomas Aquinas. Ibn-Rushd like Ibn-Sina maintained that matter was ancient and eternal. Likewise he rejected belief in corporeal resurrection and predestination. . . . However, Averroism had taken root in a Europe just awakening, and could not be dislodged." [Balyuzi: Muhammad and the Course of Islam, p. 315-7] "Neither faith nor reason was to have precedence (this would necessarily lead to a tyranny of one over the other), but rather each was to have a generous and uncompromised place at a table where both could share in the banquet of truth." [Menocal: Ornament of the World, p. 208-9]