In this book, first published in 1973, Professor Parviz Morewedge, an expert on Islamic philosophy and mysticism, provides a critical exposition of one text of ibn Sina (Avicenna), the great Persian philosopher who lived from 980 to 1037. The text is his Metaphysica in the Danish Nama-I ‘ala’I (The Book of Scientific Knowledge). In addition to a translation of the text from Persian into English, this edition includes a critical commentary on the major arguments found in the text, and notes and references to other texts of ibn Sina as well as to relevant texts of Greek philosophers, particularly Aristotle, Plotinus and Proclus. There is also a glossary of the key terms used in the Metaphysica, with their Persian, Arabic, Greek and Latin equivalents where necessary. This book is concerned primarily to show that although in the text ibn Sina resorts to the Aristotelian vocabulary and Neo-Platonic themes, and appears to be in accord with the Islamic tradition, there is evidence that many doctrines expressed by him may be considered non-Greek and non-Islamic. These include his peculiar doctrine of Self (nafs) and the doctrine of the Necessary Existent (wajib al-wujud). The author attempts to clarify the extent to which salient features of ibn Sina’s position are in agreement with what may be regarded as Sufic doctrines.

The Metaphysica of Avicenna (Ibn Sina) (UNESCO collection of representative works: Persian heritage series)

Politics & Social Sciences

Morewedge, Parviz

Philosophy

Columbia University Press

In this book, first published in 1973, Professor Parviz Morewedge, an expert on Islamic philosophy and mysticism, provides a critical exposition of one text of ibn Sina (Avicenna), the great Persian philosopher who lived from 980 to 1037. The text is his Metaphysica in the Danish Nama-I ‘ala’I (The Book of Scientific Knowledge). In addition to a translation of the text from Persian into English, this edition includes a critical commentary on the major arguments found in the text, and notes and references to other texts of ibn Sina as well as to relevant texts of Greek philosophers, particularly Aristotle, Plotinus and Proclus. There is also a glossary of the key terms used in the Metaphysica, with their Persian, Arabic, Greek and Latin equivalents where necessary. This book is concerned primarily to show that although in the text ibn Sina resorts to the Aristotelian vocabulary and Neo-Platonic themes, and appears to be in accord with the Islamic tradition, there is evidence that many doctrines expressed by him may be considered non-Greek and non-Islamic. These include his peculiar doctrine of Self (nafs) and the doctrine of the Necessary Existent (wajib al-wujud). The author attempts to clarify the extent to which salient features of ibn Sina’s position are in agreement with what may be regarded as Sufic doctrines.

The 'Metaphysica' of Avicenna (ibn Sīnā): A critical translation-commentary and analysis of the fundamental arguments in Avicenna's 'Metaphysica' in ... Editions: Islamic Thought in the Middle Ages)

Biographies & Memoirs

Routledge

The 'Metaphysica' of Avicenna (ibn Sīnā) (Routledge Library Editions: Islamic Thought in the Middle Ag)

"Parviz Morewedge’s translation of Avicenna’s Metaphysics is a significant contribution to the scholarship in Islamic philosophy…" [Paul Oskar Kristeller]

The Metaphysica of Avicenna (IBN SINA): A critical translation-commentary and analysis of fundamental arguments in Avicennas Metaphysica in the D2nish N2ma-i al24 (The Book of Scientific Knowlewdge)

Global Publications at SUNY Binghampton University

This collection of essays focusing on three domains of Islamic intellectual literature --philosophy, theology, and mysticism emphasizes the beauty of the original theoretical contributions of Islamic thought. Too often, Islamic philosophy is viewed as the product of foreign influences, in contradiction to the factual history of the culture.  By embracing a methodology that underplays the role of cultural contexts in the development of ideas in favor of a technical analysis of arguments embedded in the primary texts, the author avoids a reductionalist approach.

Essays in Islamic Philosophy, Theology, and Mysticism

Global Scholarly Publications

Metaphysica of Avicenna

This collection of essays focuses on the ontology of the most important medieval Muslim philosopher, Ibn Sina (980-1037), proffering the theses that: (a) his ontology is incompatible with monotheistic theologies; (b) his cosmogony is not derivable from either Aristotelian or Neoplatonic systems; and finally (c) the mystical dimension of his system is in accord with monistic “nature mysticism,” as classified by R. C. Zaehner. In contrast to the views of a majority of contemporary scholars, that Ibn Sina’s philosophy essentially follows monotheistic or Greek philosophical systems, this collection emphasizes his original contributions to ontology and meta-mysticism.

Mystical Philosophy of Avicenna

Inst of Global Cultural Stds

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Books by Morewedge, Parviz