The Philosopher Responds
An Intellectual Correspondence from the Tenth Century
By Abū ʿAlī Miskawayh, Abū Ḥayyān al-Tawḥīdī, Jonathan Rée | Publisher: NYU Press
About the book
Questions and answers from two great philosophers
Why 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 Abū Ḥayyān al-Tawḥīdī to the philosopher and historian Abū ʿAlī 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-Tawḥīdī and Miskawayh holds a mirror to many of the debates 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 distinctive temperaments as by the very different trajectories of their professional careers. Alternately whimsical and tragic, trivial and profound, al-Tawḥīdī’s questions provoke an interaction as interesting in its spiritedness as in its content.
An English-only edition.
Editions of The Philosopher Responds
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781479806355
Read an Excerpt
Questions and answers from two great philosophers
Why 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 Abū Ḥayyān al-Tawḥīdī to the philosopher and historian Abū ʿAlī 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-Tawḥīdī and Miskawayh holds a mirror to many of the debates 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 distinctive temperaments as by the very different trajectories of their professional careers. Alternately whimsical and tragic, trivial and profound, al-Tawḥīdī’s questions provoke an interaction as interesting in its spiritedness as in its content.
An English-only edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Philosopher Responds about?
Questions and answers from two great philosophers
Why 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 Abū Ḥayyān al-Tawḥīdī to the philosopher and historian Abū ʿAlī 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-Tawḥīdī and Miskawayh holds a mirror to many of the debates 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 distinctive temperaments as by the very different trajectories of their professional careers. Alternately whimsical and tragic, trivial and profound, al-Tawḥīdī’s questions provoke an interaction as interesting in its spiritedness as in its content.
An English-only edition.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Philosopher Responds?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Anthologies
Where can I read a sample of The Philosopher Responds?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781479806355
How long is The Philosopher Responds and how many pages does it have?
The Philosopher Responds has 446 page(s)
Is The Philosopher Responds part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Library of Arabic Literature
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Philosopher Responds?
Abū ʿAlī Miskawayh, Abū Ḥayyān al-Tawḥīdī, Jonathan Rée
Who is the Publisher of the book The Philosopher Responds?
NYU Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Philosopher Responds is available as paperback(ISBN 9781479806355)
Where can I buy The Philosopher Responds online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy The Philosopher Responds?