Alexander Orwin 
Plato’s Republic in the Islamic Context 
New Perspectives on Averroes’s Commentary

The first collection of essays devoted to the Arabic philosopher Averroes’s brilliant Commentary on Plato’s ‘Republic, ‘ which survived the medieval period only in Hebrew and Latin translations.


The first collection of essays devoted entirely to the medieval philosopher Averroes’s
Commentary on Plato’s ‘
Republic’ includes a variety of contributors from across several disciplines and countries. The anthology aims to establish Averroes as a great philosopher in his own right, with special and unique insight into the world of Islam, as well as a valuable commentator on Plato. A major feature of the book is the first published English translation of Shlomo Pines’s 1957 essay, written in Hebrew, on Averroes. The volume explores many aspects of Averroes’s philosophy, including its teachings on poetry, philosophy, religion, law, and government. Other sections trace both the inspiration Averroes’s work drew from past philosophers and the influence it had on future generations, especially in Jewish and Christian Europe.


Scholars of medieval philosophy, ancient philosophy, Jewish studies, and the history of political thought more generally will find important insights in this volume. The anthology is also intended to provide the necessary background for teachers aiming to introduce Averroes’s commentary into the classroom. With the
Republic regularly appearing near the top of lists of the most frequently taught books in the history of philosophy, this volume shows how the most important medieval commentary on it deserves a place in the curriculum as well.

Daftar Isi

Introduction

Alexander Orwin


Section 1: Averroes and His Teachers

Imposing Alfarabi on Plato: Averroes’s Novel Placement of the Platonic City

Alexander Orwin

Ibn Bajja: An Independent Reader of the Republic

Josep Puig Montada


Section 2: Poetry, Philosophy, and Logic

Expelling Dialectics from the Ideal State: Making the World Safe for Philosophy in Averroes’s
Commentary on Plato’s ‘Republic’

Yehuda Halper

Music, Poetry, and Politics in Averroes’s
Commentary on Plato’s ‘Republic’

Douglas Kries


Section 3: Law, Religion, and Philosophy

Averroes on Family and Property in the
Commentary on Plato’s ‘Republic’

Catarina Belo

Notes on Averroes’s Political Teaching

Shlomo Pines (trans. Alexander Orwin)

The Shari?a of the Republic: Islamic Law and Philosophy in Averroes
Commentary on Plato’s ‘Republic’

Rasoul Namazi

An Indecisive Truth: Divine Law and Philosophy in the
Decisive Treatise and
Commentary on Plato’s ‘Republic’

Karen Taliaferro


Section 4: Wisdom, Government, and the Character of the Political Community

Averroes between Jihad and Mc World

Michael Kochin

The Essential Qualities of the Ruler in Averroes’s
Commentary on Plato’s ‘Republic’

Rosalie Helena de Souza Pereira

Natural Perfection or Divine Fiat

Joshua Parens

Philosopher Kings and Counsellors: How Should Philosophers Participate in Politics?

Alexander Orwin


Section 5: Averroes’s Reception in Europe

Three Readings of Averroes’s
Commentary on Plato’s ‘Republic’ in Medieval Jewish Thought

Alexander Green

The Two Hebrew-into-Latin Translations of Averroes’s
Commentary on Plato’s ‘Republic’: Method, Motivation, and Context

Michael Engel

Bibliography

Contributors

Index

Tentang Penulis

ALEXANDER ORWIN is an assistant professor of political science at Louisiana State University and has recently published a monograph on the medieval philosopher Alfarabi.