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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 2 covers five centuries of Ismaili philosophy, and includes extracts from outstanding Ismaili works including the 賊硃莽櫻尨勳梭 Ikhwn al-廜糎fa尨 (Treatises of the Brethren of Purity) and the philosophical odes of N廜ξr Khusraw. It is of great significance that, in the early centuries of Islam, philosophers were influenced by Pythagorean and Hermetic ideas, which are usually associated with Shi尪i thought in general and Ismailism in particular. Ismaili philosophy at this time was able to integrate strands of Greco-Alexandrian thought such as Hermeticism and Neo-Pythagoreanism, as well as aspects of Mazdaeism and Manichaeism. It also showed marked interest in Neo-platonism.
List of Reprinted Works
Note on Transliteration
List of Contributors
General Introduction, S. H. Nasr
- Umm al-kitb
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
The Mother of Books (from Umm al-kitb) - Jbir ibn 廎兀yyn
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
The Book of Stones (from Kitb al-a廎古r) - Ab贖 Ya尪q贖b Sijistn蘋
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Kashf al-ma廎古贖b: Introduction to the Translation, Hermann Landolt
Unveiling of the Hidden (from Kashf al-ma廎古贖b)
The Book of Wellsprings (from Kitb al-yanb蘋尪) - Ab贖 廎勾tim Rz蘋
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
A尪lm al-nubuwwah (Science of Prophecy) - 廎兀m蘋d al-D蘋n Kirmn蘋
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Repose of the Intellect (from R廎仟t al-尪aql)
The Brilliant Epistle (from al-Rislat al-durriyyah) - 賊硃莽櫻尨勳梭 Ikhwn al-廜糎f尨From Arabic, lit. Brethren of Purity, a group of learned scholars who were based in Basra and Baghdad around the last quarter of the t10th century CE. It is more… (Treatises of The Brethren of Purity)
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
Microcosm and Macrocosm
A Theory on Numbers
Man and the Animals - al-Mu尨ayyad fil-D蘋n Sh蘋rz蘋
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Seven Lectures(from 鬼堯喝廜苑硃) - N廜ξr-i Khusraw
Introduction, S. H. Nasr
The Sum of the Two Wisdoms (from Kitb Jmi尪 al-廎可kmatayn)
Knowledge and Liberation (from Gushyish wa rahyish)
Philosophical Poetry (from the 嗨蘋滄櫻紳) - Na廜蘋r al-D蘋n 廜玳哀蘋
Introduction, M. Aminrazavi
Contemplation and Action (from Sayr wa sul贖k)
The Garden of Submission, or Notions (from Raw廎at al-tasl蘋mor Ta廜ζwwurt)
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.