Language and Reason in Islamic Thought: Faḫr al-Dīn al-Rāzī’s Reconciliation of Manṭiq and Bayān

di Mostafa Najafi (Autore)

De Gruyter, 2025

This study delves into Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī's (1149–1210) theory of language, a pivotal yet underexplored facet of his intellectual legacy. Moving beyond his interactions with the Avicennian tradition, it positions al-Rāzī as an independent thinker. The work examines two often misinterpreted dimensions of his thought: his assertion that all concepts are self-evident, challenging traditional epistemology on conceptualization (taṣawwur) as advanced by Abū Naṣr al-Fārābī (870–950) and Ibn Sīnā (980–1037), and his refinement of ʿAbd-l-Qāhir al-Ğurğānī’s (1009–1078) theory of linguistic composition (naẓm), emphasizing language’s expressive capacity (bayān) and the Qurʾān’s unique linguistic structure. By analyzing these facets, the study reconstructs al-Rāzī’s comprehensive framework for understanding linguistic phenomena, bridging the Greek-inspired falsafa tradition and the rich Arabic linguistic heritage. This exploration offers scholars and students a nuanced perspective on Islamic intellectual history, highlighting al-Rāzī’s role in harmonizing diverse traditions and advancing a profound theory of linguistic understanding. This theory is essential for engaging with al-Rāzī’s extensive written heritage.

• Autore: Mostafa Najafi
• Editore: De Gruyter
• Collana: Welten des Islams - Worlds of Islam - Mondes de l’Islam
• Anno: 2025
• Rilegatura: Hardback
• Pagine: 274 p.
• Dimensioni: 230 x 155 mm
• Peso: 516 gr.
• EAN: 9783119147477

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