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Document Details :

Title: Philoponus' Cosmology in the Arabic Tradition
Author(s): CHASE, Michael
Journal: Recherches de Théologie et Philosophie Médiévales
Volume: 79    Issue: 2   Date: 2012   
Pages: 271-306
DOI: 10.2143/RTPM.79.2.2959637

Abstract :
The article surveys the influence of some of the cosmological theories of Johannes Philoponus in the Islamic philosophical tradition. After a survey of the Arabic tradition of Philoponus life and works, I provide a study of some of the latter’s chief arguments in favor of the world’s temporal creation. The central part of the paper consists in a study of the text and translation (provided in an Appendix) of a selection of Averroes’ quotations from and discussions of Philoponus’ key arguments. In the case of the fragments of Philoponus’ lost work Against Arisotle, preserved mainly by Simplicius, the context of Simplicius’ text must be taken into consideration, since it often provides the requisite doctrinal background for understanding Philoponus, and hence the Arabo-Islamic authors who adopted and adapted his arguments.

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