Islamic Philosophy: A Methodological Introduction

This seminar seeks to equip students with a structured and comprehensive understanding of Islamic philosophy (al-falsafa al-islāmiyya / al-ḥikma), approached through its foundational methodological questions. By surveying the principal frameworks through which the tradition has been articulated, the course aims to clarify its scope, its internal logic, and its place within the broader heritage of Islamic intellectual life.

Throughout our discussions, we will examine how Islamic philosophy engaged with earlier traditions—most notably Greek and Late Antique thought—as well as how it interacted with the major Islamic sciences, including theology (kalām), jurisprudence (fiqh), and scriptural exegesis (tafsīr). In doing so, the seminar provides both an internal perspective on the development of philosophical inquiry in the Islamic world and an external view of its intellectual interlocutors and cross-cultural exchanges.

Main Themes

1. Defining Islamic Philosophy: its aims, scope, and methodological character
2. Falsafa and Islamic Textual Authorities: the relationship between philosophical reasoning and Qurʾānic–Prophetic sources
3. ⁠Origins and Originality: the emergence of Islamic philosophy and its distinctive contributions
4. ⁠The Translation Movement: transmission, adaptation, and transformation of earlier philosophical traditions
5. Schools and Structures: major currents, figures, and systematic developments within the tradition

This course invites students to engage deeply with the intellectual architecture of Islamic philosophy and to appreciate its enduring relevance as a disciplined pursuit of wisdom and understanding.