Fakhr al-Din al-Razi

Peter Adamson, Fedor Benevich

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingEntry for encyclopedia/dictionary

Abstract

Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī (1149–1210) was one of the most innovative and influential thinkers in the first stage of what is sometimes called “post-classical” Islamic thought. Along with other major thinkers of the Islamic East in the twelfth century, notably Abū l-Barakāt al-Baghdādī and al-Suhrawardī, Fakhr al-Dīn reacted critically to the philosophy of Ibn Sīnā (Avicenna). He produced a voluminous corpus that is often elusive in terms of conveying Fakhr al-Dīn’s own considered opinions, but is packed with subtle philosophical argumentation on pretty well every aspect of Ibn Sīnā’s thought. Fakhr al-Dīn did also stake out distinctive positions of his own, for example with respect to the problem of providing real definitions, the distinction between essence and existence, the principles of physics, the unity of the human soul, and the source of ethical norms. This abundant output in philosophy was only one part of his life’s work, which includes texts on Islamic law, theology, astrology, and one of history’s most important commentaries on the Quran.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
EditorsEdward N. Zalta, Uri Nodelman
PublisherMetaphysics Research Lab, Philosophy Department, Stanford University
EditionSpring 2023
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2023

Publication series

NameThe Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
PublisherMetaphysics Research Lab, Philosophy Department, Stanford University
ISSN (Electronic)1095-5054

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