Ibn Rushd:
The Last of the Arab Philosophers

Author: Ahmed Farahat

Genre: History, Philosophy

Published: 2023

Description: With the decline of Greek civilization, it seemed that the massive intellectual revolution that lasted for centuries would be lost to the winds. However, ideas proved to be indomitable, uncontainable, and impossible to suppress or destroy. They travel freely from one place to another, illuminating minds and building civilizations. Greek philosophy moved from the West to the East, and in Baghdad, the greatest philosophical and scientific works of the Greeks were translated into Arabic. This marked the emergence of new philosophers whose philosophies were founded on these works, especially those of Aristotle.

Great thinkers such as Al-Kindi and Al-Farabi, known as the founder of Arab philosophy and titled "The Second Teacher," rose to prominence, along with Ibn Sina, known as the "Prince of Physicians." As the Islamic empire expanded, philosophy shifted westward again, producing renowned philosophers in Al-Andalus, such as the famous Ibn Tufail. Ultimately, this long journey culminated in one of history's greatest philosophers, Ibn Rushd (Averroes).

Ibn Rushd became the vital link between ancient and modern philosophy, dedicating himself to preserving philosophy at a time when forces of darkness and regression sought to suppress it, branding those who studied or defended it as heretics and atheists. Many thinkers, including Aristotle and Hypatia, had fallen victim to such unjust accusations. Ibn Rushd himself was not spared these baseless charges, yet as always, ideas triumphed and spread. His philosophy laid the foundation for the European Enlightenment, built on the principle of freedom of thought and prioritizing reason—a call Ibn Rushd had championed from the very beginning.