Self-Awareness in Islamic Philosophy

Avicenna and Beyond

Jari Kaukua author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:15th Mar '18

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Self-Awareness in Islamic Philosophy cover

This book investigates the emergence and development of a distinct concept of self-awareness in pre-modern Islamic philosophy.

This book provides an extended analysis of human selfhood and self-awareness in Avicenna and two of the most important post-classical Islamic philosophers, Suhrawardī and Mullā Sadrā. It is of interest to readers in the history of philosophy, intellectual history, selfhood studies, Islamic studies, history of ideas and philosophy of mind.This important book investigates the emergence and development of a distinct concept of self-awareness in post-classical, pre-modern Islamic philosophy. Jari Kaukua presents the first extended analysis of Avicenna's arguments on self-awareness - including the flying man, the argument from the unity of experience, the argument against reflection models of self-awareness and the argument from personal identity - arguing that all these arguments hinge on a clearly definable concept of self-awareness as pure first-personality. He substantiates his interpretation with an analysis of Suhrawardī's use of Avicenna's concept and Mullā Sadrā's revision of the underlying concept of selfhood. The study explores evidence for a sustained, pre-modern and non-Western discussion of selfhood and self-awareness, challenging the idea that these concepts are distinctly modern, European concerns. The book will be of interest to a range of readers in history of philosophy, history of ideas, Islamic studies and philosophy of mind.

'Jari Kaukua's Self-Awareness in Islamic Philosophy covers much uncharted territory, probing the problem of self-awareness as conceived by Avicenna and as received and reformulated by his illustrious successors, chief among them Shihāb al-Dīn al-Suhrawardī (d. 1191) and Mullā Ṣadrā (d. 1640). Although the premodern, non-European occupation with the self has already been aptly demonstrated by Richard Sorabji, Kaukua seeks to fill in the gaps with a more sustained account of Islamic models of self-awareness. He approaches this topic with impressive historical range, sensitivity to the many technical nuances inherent in the subject matter, sound philological skills, and forensic philosophical precision … a major feat and a serious scholarly accomplishment.' Mohammed Rustom, Journal of the American Oriental Society

ISBN: 9781107460805

Dimensions: 230mm x 153mm x 15mm

Weight: 420g

267 pages