Islamic and Arab philosophy Books

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Book Synopsis

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA superstitious reading of the world based on religion may be harmless at a private level, yet employed as a political tool it can have more sinister implications. As this fascinating book by Ali Rahnema, a distinguished Iranian intellectual, relates, superstition and mystical beliefs have endured and influenced ideology and political strategy in Iran from the founding of the Safavid dynasty in the sixteenth century to the present day. As Rahnema demonstrates through a close reading of the Persian sources and with examples from contemporary Iranian politics, it is this supposed connectedness to the hidden world that has allowed leaders such as Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mahmud Ahmadinejad to present themselves and their entourage as representatives of the divine, and their rivals as the embodiment of evil.Trade Review'An important book.' The Times Literary SupplementTable of ContentsIntroduction; Part I. Politicizing Occult Islam: 1. Ahmadinejad: a touch of light; 2. Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi's supernatural Shi'ism; 3. Shah Esma'il Safavi: the quintessentially occult Shi'i king; Part II. Popular Shi'ism: Majlesism: 4. Milieu, childhood, sanctity and fame; 5. From conceptualization to officialization of a religio-political ideology; 6. Deficiency and defectiveness of the human mind; 7. Society needs the leadership of jurists and/or kings; 8. Superstitious education: fogging minds, fostering resignation; 9. Reconfigurating the necessities of belief: articulating a state religion; 10. Majlesism as an ideology; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisRahim Acar is Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Marmara University, Turkey.M. Cüneyt Kaya is Professor of Islamic Philosophy at Istanbul University, Turkey.

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Book SynopsisThis deluxe three-volume boxset brings together classic spiritual texts, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran and The Egyptian Book of the Dead. Each volume is beautifully bound in silk with gold-foil embossing and features full-colour illustrations inside. The stunning box set cover design is illustrated by Tithi Luadthong.This luxurious presentation makes it a wonderful collectible for anyone wanting to deepen their connection to ancient spiritual practices.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Collector''s Classics series are high-quality, hardback box-sets of classic works of literature. With elegant embossed cover-designs and coloured endpapers, these editions make wonderful gifts or collectibles to treasure forever.

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Book SynopsisSanskrit Debate: Vasubandhu's Vimsatika' versus Kumarila's Niralambanavada' illustrates the rules and regulations of classical Indian debate literature (pramanasastra) by introducing new translations of two Sanskrit texts composed in antithesis to each other's tradition of thought and practice. In the third century CE, Vasubandhu, a Buddhist philosopher-monk, proposed that the entire world of lived experience is a matter of mind only through his Vimsatika (Twenty Verses). In the seventh century CE, Kumarila, a Hindu philosopher-priest, composed Niralambanavada (Non-Sensory Limit Debate) to establish the objective reality of objects by refuting Vasubandhu's claim that objects experienced in waking life are not different from objects experienced in dreams. Kumarila rigorously employs formal rules and regulations of Indian logic and debate to demonstrate that Vasubandhu's assertion is totally irrational and incoherent. Vimsatika ranks among the world's mosTable of ContentsContents: Classical Indian Philosophy – Vimśatikā and Auto-Commentary in Text-Historical Context – Translation of Vimśatikā and Auto-Commentary – Nirālambanavāda in Text–Historical Context – Translation of Nirālambanavāda – The Verdict.

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Book SynopsisJason Bahbak Mohaghegh is Assistant Professor of World Literature at New Jersey City University, USA.Trade ReviewPerhaps the major merit of Inflictions is not only the strength of its argument, but it is more the book’s relentless counter canonical approach — a timely political-methodological intervention which boldly contemplates the inscriptions of real violence as integral to the very movement of absolute laceration of writing itself and the ultimate depleting of the metaphysics of presence … From this multi-dimensional perception of how we ought to begin reading violence, from this deferred universe, the ideas of post-apocalyptic visions emerge and unfold. By all means, one can only hope that this book excites more inquiries peeling through more engravings-of-thought contained in concealed poetic, fictional, and philosophical palimpsests waiting for their moments to emerge. -- Youssef Yacoubi, The Ohio State University * SCTIW Review *Table of ContentsSeries Foreword Preface: Violence, East/West Acknowledgements 0. Zero-World Consciousness 1. Threat: Writings of Betrayal 2. Annihilation: Writings of Cruelty 3. Sharpening: Writings of Evil 4. Deception: Writings of Midnight 5. Rage: Writings of Overthrow 6. Assassination: Writings of War 6.5. Interlude (Of the Factions, of the Barriers) 7. Conclusion (Of Those Who Have Become Jagged): Reckonings of an Eastern Violence Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisQuestions and answers from two great philosophersWhy is laughter contagious? Why do mountains exist? Why do we long for the past, even if it is scarred by suffering? Spanning a vast array of subjects that range from the philosophical to the theological, from the philological to the scientific, The Philosopher Responds is the record of a set of questions put by the litterateur Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi to the philosopher and historian Abu ''Ali Miskawayh. Both figures were foremost contributors to the remarkable flowering of cultural and intellectual life that took place in the Islamic world during the reign of the Buyid dynasty in the fourth/tenth century. The correspondence between al-Tawhidi and Miskawayh holds a mirror to many of the debates and preoccupations of the time and reflects the spirit of rationalistic inquiry that animated their era. It also provides insight into the intellectual outlooks of two thinkers who were divided as much by their distTrade ReviewTawhidi’s questions are often epigrammatic essays; they assert the limits of human reason and dwell on man’s 'deficiencies,' while evincing a Johnsonian keenness towards observing the contradictions of the human character, the fortunes of life and the spirit of the age. . . . There was no better recorder of his distempered century than Tawhidi; but there was also no other thinker of his time whose disillusioned and restless spirit is more modern, or whose character comes across more strongly in his writings. * Times Literary Supplement *A fascinating read, particularly for the aspiring scholar of classical Arabic texts, who will benefit from a solid English translation alongside the original Arabic. * Al Jadid *This publication not only offers a new critical reference edition of the Arabic text, but also, through an elegant and fluent English translation, makes this unique work accessible to an audience of non-specialists. * Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies *A marvel of literary finesse, of an English style seemingly able to match the often ornate prose of the Arabic... A pleasure to read throughout. * Journal of Near Eastern Studies *

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Book SynopsisQuestions and answers from two great philosophersWhy is laughter contagious? Why do mountains exist? Why do we long for the past, even if it is scarred by suffering? Spanning a vast array of subjects that range from the philosophical to the theological, from the philological to the scientific, The Philosopher Responds is the record of a set of questions put by the litterateur Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi to the philosopher and historian Abu ''Ali Miskawayh. Both figures were foremost contributors to the remarkable flowering of cultural and intellectual life that took place in the Islamic world during the reign of the Buyid dynasty in the fourth/tenth century. The correspondence between al-Tawhidi and Miskawayh holds a mirror to many of the debates and preoccupations of the time and reflects the spirit of rationalistic inquiry that animated their era. It also provides insight into the intellectual outlooks of two thinkers who were divided as much by their distinctivTrade ReviewThis publication not only offers a new critical reference edition of the Arabic text, but also, through an elegant and fluent English translation, makes this unique work accessible to an audience of non-specialists. * Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies *A fascinating read, particularly for the aspiring scholar of classical Arabic texts, who will benefit from a solid English translation alongside the original Arabic. * Al Jadid *A marvel of literary finesse, of an English style seemingly able to match the often ornate prose of the Arabic... A pleasure to read throughout. * Journal of Near Eastern Studies *

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Book SynopsisCombining a historical perspective that traces lines of continuity and change in Arab liberalism, an integrative discussion of cross-sectional themes, and a comparative analysis of the West, Turkey and Iran, this book seeks to enrich our knowledge of liberal thought in the Arab Middle East. In intertwining these dimensions—the historic, integrative and comparative, Arab liberal thought in the modern age responds to a tendency to overlook the significance of Middle Eastern liberalism in favour of more powerful and assertive forces embodied by authoritarian regimes and Islamic movements. The study focuses on the second half of the twentieth century and the early twenty-first century. Post-1967 liberals, as their predecessors, confronted old dilemmas, socio-economic upheavals, political instability and cultural disorientation, but also demonstrated ideological rejuvenation and provided liberal thought with new emphases and visions. Arab liberals’ ongoing debates over freedom of religion, secularism, individualism, democracy and human rights were aimed at formulating of a comprehensive liberal project seeking to enact an Arab Enlightenment.Trade Review'An extraordinary accomplishment that is original and thought-provoking. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, during what appeared to be the hegemony of political Islamic radicalism and the authoritarian state in the Arab Middle East, Hatina masterfully reconstructs Arab liberalism and liberal political thought. Analyzing in detail, liberal voices and actions by courageous public-intellectuals, they challenged the overriding authoritarianism with trenchant criticism, speaking truth to power and providing an alternative agenda for freedom of thought and speech, human rights, social equality, women’s emancipation, and genuine liberal democracy. Hatina demonstrates that Arab liberalism is still a vital force in both intellectual and practical spheres, and stands to influence political life in the future. 'Professor Israel Gershoni, Tel Aviv University'Arab Liberal Thought in the Modern Age offers a theoretically informed and fair-minded reading of an Arab liberalism that is not so easy to pin down. The analysis of major thinkers is convincing, and the three themes of scepticism, ecumenism and confidence in Arab advancement provide a novel and stimulating approach to varieties of liberalism which go well beyond political or economic doctrine.'Professor Jakob Skovgaard-Petersen, University of Copenhagen -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: Debating Arab Liberalism 1 Historical Endurance, Ideological Fervor2 Revisiting Islam: Toward a Humanist Vision 3 Arab Politics: Oriental Despotism4 The West and Israel: An Inspiring Model5 The 2011 Arab RevolutionsConclusionBibliographyIndex

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Book Synopsis"Know, then, my friends, that everything that is recited and practiced in the world for the cult and adoration of gods is nothing but errors, abuses, illusions, and impostures. All the laws and orders that are issued in the name and authority of God or the gods are really only human inventions...." "And what I say here in general about the vanity and falsity of the religions of the world, I don't say only about the foreign and pagan religions, which you already regard as false, but I say it as well about your Christian religion because, as a matter of fact, it is no less vain or less false than any other." These are not the words of Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, or any other outspoken contemporary atheist. In fact, they are the words of a quiet, modest parish priest named Jean Meslier, who died in early 18th-century France and left behind his copious Testament as a legacy for his parishioners. This obviously controversial work, which influenced such noted thinkers as Baron d'Holbach and Voltaire, and is viewed by some historians as anticipating both the French Revolution and Karl Marx, is now available in English for the first time. In impassioned tones but with analytical precision, Meslier presents a methodical deconstruction of Christianity and the governments that support it, along with a thoughtful defense of the fundamental human rights of liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. He reveals himself not only as a materialist and unbeliever but also as a man of revolutionary sentiments who firmly opposes the governments of his day, which he maintains keep the common people in ignorance, fear, and poverty through religion. Moreover, he urges his former parishioners to wake up and inform themselves about the truth of their governments and religion. This fascinating document, which is an early forerunner of many later critiques of religion, is must reading for freethinkers, skeptics, and anyone interested in the history of religion and dissent.

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