Islam and Science

The Intellectual Career of Nizam al-Din al-Nisaburi
1. Auflage 2011
ISBN: 978-0-415-66399-1
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 312 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 477 g

Reihe: Culture and Civilization in the Middle East

In examining the work of eminent fourteenth century Iranian Shiite scholar Nizam al-Din al-Nisaburi, this book is the first rigorous attempt to explain the cross-fertilization of scientific and religious thought in Islamic civilization. Nisaburi did not consider himself a scientist alone, being commissioned by his patrons to work in a variety of fields. Islam and Science examines in detail the relationship between the metaphysics of Nisaburi's science, and statements he made in his Qur'an commentary and in other non-scientific writings.

Sources suggest that Nisaburi was inspired to begin his scientific career by the inclusion of basic science in a religious (madrasa) education. By mid-career, he had found methodological similarities between theoretical astronomy and Islamic jurisprudence. Morrison concludes that while Nisaburi believed science could give one a taste of God's knowledge, he realised that the study of science and natural philosophy alone could not lead him to a spiritual union with God. Only Sufi practice and Sufi theory could accomplish that.

Morrison's work is remarkable in synthesizing the history of Islamic science with other areas of Islamic studies. It will be of interest to students and scholars of religion and the history of science, as well as readers with a more general interest in Middle Eastern studies.

Winner of the Iranian World Prize for Book of the Year in Islamics Studies 2009

Autoren/Hrsg.

Morrison, Robert

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Wissenschafts- und Universitätsgeschichte
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Geschichte der Naturwissenschaften, Formalen Wissenschaften & Technik
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Geschichte der Human- und Sozialwissenschaften
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften Interdisziplinär Religion & Wissenschaft
• Geisteswissenschaften Islam & Islamische Studien Islam: Theologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Systematische Theologie Christliche Theologie und die Wissenschaften
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religion & Wissenschaft

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Nishapur in the Wake of the Mongol Conquests 2. Religious Motivations for Nisaburi's Early Work on Observational Astronomy 3. Nisaburi and Critical Questions of Kalim 4. The Heavens Subjugated to God 5. The Principles of Astronomy are those of Jurisprudence 6. The Role of Science in the Portrayals of Nature in Nisaburi's Qur'an Commentary 7. The Role of the Esoteric

Über Autor(innen)

Robert Morrison is Assistant Professor of Religion at Whitman College, USA