Post-Classical Islamic Philosophy A Contradiction in Terms?

• Published in: Nazariyat, journal for the history of islamic philosophy and sciences (Online) Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 1 - 21
• Main Author: Jari Kaukua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scientific Studies Association (ILEM) 01-10-2020
• Subjects: concept of philosophy; dimitri gutas; historiography of islamic philosophy; paraphilosophy
• ISSN: 2547-9415; 2547-9415
• DOI: 10.12658/Nazariyat.6.2.M0110en

This paper engages critically with Dimitri Gutas’ recent characterization of post-classical Islamic philosophy and theology as a form of paraphilosophy or intellectual activity that merely simulates philosophy. I argue that this view arises from a misguided understanding of the concept of philosophy that should provide the standard for its historiography. In order to avoid a number of problematic consequences, such as gaps in historical continuity or a disconnection from what we understand by philosophy today, we must take our cue from a sufficiently uncontroversial contemporary concept of philosophy instead of any particular historical concept, such as the Peripatetic amalgam of metaphysics, theory of science, and the empirical sciences. Such a strategy provides a sound basis for the inclusion of post-classical thinkers, as well as many classical thinkers who are not falāsifa, in the history of Islamic philosophy without vicious circularity or loss of a normative concept of philosophy