Weber
also says, “It is underappreciated in Western philosophy that Avicenna
developed ideas quite similar in form and implication to Descartes’s famous
Meditations, though Avicenna lived more than a half-century before Descartes.”
Weber,
a professor of public policy leadership at the University of Mississippi, makes
these remarks in an interview with the Mehr News Agency.
Following
is the text of the interview:
A:
What is your perception of Iranian philosophers such as Avicenna(Ibn Sina) and
Farabi(Al Farabi)? What is their status in the history of philosophy?
Q:
The history of philosophy includes many traditions from various parts of the
world. Contemporary philosophical developments tend to be treated quite
regionally, however. In the public sphere and news media, furthermore, Iranian
and other non-Western cultures tend to be differentiated significantly from
Western outlooks and philosophies. This development is unfortunate, especially
in places that treat foreign philosophy as dangerous or unwelcome. In fact,
some great Persian philosophers were closely connected to Western philosophy
through their readings of Plato and Aristotle and covered in courses on
medieval philosophy. Today the world has come to recognize that education is
the road to health, wealth, security, and happiness. We call this road “academia,”
but few note the origin of this word. It refers to the grove of Akademos, who
was a Greek warrior. The warrior’s name is famous because Plato founded his
academy there, in a location related to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. So, in a
sense, all settings referred to as “academic” pay homage to the founding of
Plato’s academy, the descendents of which make up some of the most important
and lasting institutions in the world. Beyond the superficial reference to
Plato’s academy, Iranian and Western cultures connect in the work of Persian
philosophers, as I have suggested. Al-Farabi and Avicenna both built on the
wisdom of Aristotle, responding in various ways to his agreements with and
departures from Plato’s teachings. In fact, it is underappreciated in Western
philosophy that Avicenna developed ideas quite similar in form and implication
to Descartes’s famous Meditations, though Avicenna lived more than a
half-century before Descartes. Today, the legacy of these philosophers is
especially to be found in their rich responses to Aristotle, but also in the
applications of their ideas to religion. Anyone who believes in a soul distinct
from one’s body must make sense of how form or essence is different from matter
and existence. Aristotle saw less strict a divide between these things than
Plato, and Avicenna challenged Aristotelian thinking on this front. Today
scientists are learning a great deal about the brain and its processes, which
has led many people to return to ideas about the nature of the mind or soul, as
well as its ties to matter, in this case the brain. What is most inspiring to
me and what bears the greatest potential, I believe, in considering the
influence of Persian philosophers like Avicenna concerns their engagement in
intelligent debate with brilliant thinkers, from no matter what culture they
come. Human beings all face moral challenges, challenges of understanding, and
finitude in death. The sad truth today is that differences in culture between
Iran and the West have been emphasized when so many connections and common
interests could inspire greater openness and interaction. If there is a central
and most important lesson that philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Avicenna
learned clearly it is that the philosophical exchange of ideas is vital for
pursuing truth, justice, and moral lives. In this context, therefore, I would
hope that Western philosophy could be welcomed with open arms in places that
have been closed to it, and I would also encourage Western schools of thought
to continue to expand their engagement with scholars of many traditions,
including certainly Iranian philosophers among them.
Dr.
Eric Thomas Weber is Assistant Professor of Public Policy Leadership at the
University of Mississippi in Oxford, MS, USA. His second book, Morality,
Leadership, and Public Policy, has recently been released and his third book,
Democracy and Leadership will be published in 2012.
Source:
IBNA News Agency