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The tradition of philosophy in the Persian-speaking world is extraordinarily rich, creative and diverse. This anthology, which is divided into five volumes, aims to communicate something of that richness and diversity. The term philosophy is understood to in its widest sense to include theological debate, philosophical Sufism and philosophical hermeneutics (喧硃尨滄蘋梭The elucidation of the inner or esoteric meaning, b廜虹n , from the literal wording or apparent meaning of a text, ritual or religious prescription.). Extending over a period of more than two millennia, and showcasing translations by well-established scholars, the anthology offers full bibliographical references throughout. For anyone interested in exploring, in all their varied manifestations, the fascinating philosophical traditions of Persia, such a wide-ranging and ambitious work will be an indispensable resource. Volume 1 starts with the Zoroastrian period and extends to the time of Biruni and Omar Khayyam, paying special attention to the peripatetic school associated with Ibn Sina (Avicenna). During the pre-Islamic period philosophy was intertwined with religion, and it is within Persian religious texts such as the “Gathas”, the “Denkard”, and the Zoroastrian texts of the “Bundahisn” that philosophical discussions of subjects ranging from metaphysics to cosmology and eschatology are to be found.
Preface M. Aminrazavi
List of Reprinted Works
Note on Transliteration
List of Contributors
Prolegomenon, S. H. Nasr
Part I. Early Persian Philosophy: Zoroastrian Thought
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
1. The Original Creation (from 詁喝紳餃硃堯勳禳紳)
2. Greater 詁喝紳餃硃堯勳禳紳
3. The Answers of Man贖skihar (from Ddistn-i D蘋n蘋k)
4. Opinions of the Spirit of Wisdom (from D蘋n-i Ma蘋nog-i Khirad)
5. Selected Readings
6. Exegesis of the Good Religion (from 嗨襲紳域硃娶餃 VI)
Part II. Early Persian Philosophy: Manichaeism
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
7. Central Principles (from the Kephalaia)
Part III. Early Islamic Philosophy: The Peripatetics
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
8. Abul-尪Abbs Mu廎仟mmad 蘆rnshahr蘋
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
The Ideas of 蘆rnshahr蘋 (from Zd al-musfir蘋n)
9. Ab贖 Na廜ψ Frb蘋
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
A Paraphrase of Aristotles Analytica Posteriora (from Kitb al-burhn)
A Reconciliation of the Opinions of the Two Sages, Divine Plato and Aristotle (from Kitb al-jam尪 bayn ra尨yay al-廎仟kimayn Afl廜倩南 al-ilh蘋 wa Aris廜倩 )
The Perfect State (from Mabdi尨 r尨 ahl al-mad蘋nat al-f廎ilah)
10. Abul-廎兀san 尪Amir蘋
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Knowledge and the Religious Sciences (from al-I尪lm bi manqib al-Islm)
On the Soul and its Fate (from al-Amad 尪alal-abad)
11. Ab贖 Sulaymn Sijistn蘋
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Philosophical Treatises (紼喝廜ζ紳紳硃款櫻喧)
12. Ibn S蘋n
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Metaphysics (from Dnish-nmah-yi 尪al尨蘋 )
Creation Ex-Nihilo and Immediate Creation (from al-Ishrt wal-tanb蘋ht)
On Theodicy and Providence I (from 硃梭-釦堯勳款櫻尨)
On Theodicy and Providence II (from al-Ishrt wal-tanb蘋ht )
On Time (from 硃梭-釦堯勳款櫻尨 )
The Stations of the Knowers (from al-Ishrt wal-tanb蘋ht )
Living Son of the Awake (from Rislah 廎兀yy ibn Yaq廕n )
Introduction (from Man廜虹q al-mashraqiyy蘋n )
13. Ab贖 尪Al蘋 A廎叮ad ibn Mu廎仟mmad Miskawayh
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Perennial Philosophy (Wisdom) (from al-廎夕kmat al-khlidah or 斑櫻滄蘋餃櫻紳-域堯勳娶硃餃)
The Health of the Soul (from Tahdh蘋b al-akhlq)
14. Bahmanyr ibn Marzbn
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Authors Foreword (from Kitb al-ta廎丟馳蘋l)
Part IV. Early Islamic Philosophy: The Independent Philosophers
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
15. Ab贖 Bakr Mu廎仟mmad ibn Zakariyy尨 Rz蘋
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Of the Excellence and Praise of Reason (from al-廜枰bb al-r贖廎汁n蘋)
The Book of the Philosophic Life (from al-S蘋rat al-falsafiyyah)
16. Ab贖 Ray廎汁n B蘋r贖n蘋
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
The Belief of the Hindus in God (from Ta廎司蘋q m lil-Hind)
Questions and Answers (from al-As尨ilah wal-ajwibah)
17. 尪Umr Khayym
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
The Necessity of Contradiction, Free Will and Determinism (廎ar贖rat al-ta廎dd fil-尪lam wal-jabr wal-baq尨)
Universals of Existence (鬼喝梭梭勳聆聆櫻喧-勳 滄喝轍贖餃A metaphysical term meaning ‘existence’, employed by philosophically-inclined thinkers such as al-Frb蘋 (d. ca. 950), Ibn Rushd (d. 1198), al-Suhraward蘋 and Mull 廜糎dr (d. 1050/1640). According to Ibn Sina (d…. )
Select Bibliography
Index
Seyyed Hossein Nasr is University Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University. He is the author of over 300 articles and thirty books, and has lectured widely on Islamic philosophy.
Mehdi Aminrazavi is the author and editor of numerous books and articles, and is currently Professor of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Mary Washington, where he directs the Middle Eastern Studies Program.