History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps

HoP 180 - Proof Positive - The Logical Tradition

Later Islamic logicians try to solve the Liar Paradox and take on the advances of Avicenna's logic.

HoP 179 - Mohammed Rustom on Philosophical Sufism

Peter is joined by Mohammed Rustom in a discussion about Sufi authors including Ibn 'Arabī and Rūmī

HoP 178 - Eyes Wide Shut - Rumi and Philosophical Sufism

The Persian poet Rūmī and mystical philosopher al-Qūnawī carry on the legacy of Sufism.

HoP 177 - To Be or Not to Be - Debating Avicenna’s Metaphysics

Avicenna’s distinction between essence and existence triggers a running debate among philosophers and theologians.

HoP 176 - A Man for all Seasons - al-Tusi

Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī’s controversial career sees him adopt and then abandon Ismāʿīlism, team up with the Mongols, and offer a staunch defense of Avicenna.

HoP 175 - Bright Ideas - Illuminationism

The Illuminationists carry on Suhrawardī’s critique of “Peripatetic” philosophy and wonder if they will be reborn as giraffes.

HoP 174 - Leading Light - Suhrawardi

Suhrawardī, founder of the Illuminationist (ishrāqī) tradition, proposes a metaphysics of light on the basis of his theory of knowledge by presence

HoP 173 - For the Sake of Argument - Fakhr al-Din al-Razi

The hugely influential Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī weaves Avicenna and Islamic theology into complex dialectical treatments of time, God, the soul, and ethics.

HoP 172 - All Things Considered - Abu l-Barakat al-Baghdadi

Abū l-Barakāt al-Baghdādī makes up his own mind about physics and the soul, and along the way inaugurates a new style of doing philosophy.

HoP 171 - Golden Ages - The Later Eastern Traditions

An introduction to later developments in philosophical theology, sufism, and Illuminationism, focusing on the reception and critique of Avicenna.

HoP 170 - Gad Freudenthal on Jewish Philosophy and Science

Leading scholar of medieval Jewish thought Gad Freudenthal joins Peter in a concluding episode on Andalusian thought.

HoP 169 - A Matter of Principles - Albo and Abravanel

Joseph Albo and Isaac Abravanel critique Maimonides’ attempt to lay down foundations for the Jewish law.

HoP 168 - Chariot of Fire - Kabbalah

The rich symbolism of the Zohar and the spiritual practices of Abraham Abluafia feature in the mystical movement known as Kabbalah.

HoP 167 - When Bad Things Happen to Good People - Suffering in Jewish Philosophy

The Book of Job provokes Saadia, Maimonides, Ibn Tibbon and Gersonides to reflect on why God allows suffering.

HoP 166 - Tamar Rudavsky on Gersonides and Crescas

Tamar Rudavsky joins Peter to talk about the two great medieval Jewish thinkers after Maimonides: Gersonides and Crescas.

HoP 165 - Neither the Time Nor the Place - Hasdai Crescas

Ḥasdai Crescas shows Aristotelian physics who’s boss, by defending alternative conceptions of time, place and infinity.

HoP 164 - Man and Superman - Gersonides and the Jewish Reaction to Averroes

The super-commentator Gersonides and other Jews digest the ideas of Averroes.

HoP 163 - Burnt Offerings - The Maimonides Controversy

Maimonides’ works provoke a bitter dispute among Jews in France and Spain over the relation of philosophy to Judaism.

HoP 162 - Sarah Stroumsa on Maimonides

Maimonides as a "Mediterranean thinker": Peter is joined by Sarah Stroumsa.

HoP 161 - He Moves in Mysterious Ways - Maimonides on Eternity

Maimonides tries to settle the eternity of the world debate by declaring a draw.