Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī's Commentary on Avicenna's Pointers : The Confluence of Exegesis and Aporetics

Shihadeh, Ayman

Abstract

This chapter argues against the prevalent reductionist reading of Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī’s criticism of Avicennan doctrines in his philosophical works as a mere theologically motivated refutation. It proposes that when read in context, his famous commentary on Avicenna’s Pointers (Ishārāt) emerges as a confluence of the two classical genres of exegetical commentary (sharḥ, tafsīr) and aporetic commentary (shukūk), and as such perfectly typifies its author’s method of critical investigation. Al-Rāzī contrasts this method with both the uncritical traditionalism promoted by mainstream Avicennists and the fixation on refutation among contemporary counter-Avicennists. To support this new reading, the chapter examines two discussions in the commentary: one on Avicenna’s theory of prime matter and corporeity, and another on his concurrentist account of creation.

Citation

Shihadeh, A. Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī's Commentary on Avicenna's Pointers : The Confluence of Exegesis and Aporetics. In K. El-Rouayheb, & S. Schmidtke (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Islamic Philosophy. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199917389.013.12

• Online Publication Date: Nov 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Dec 12, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 2, 2116
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Series Title: Oxford Handbooks
• Book Title: Oxford Handbook of Islamic Philosophy
• ISBN: 9780199917389
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199917389.013.12
• Keywords: Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Avicenna, Pointers and Remarks, Sharḥ al-Ishārāt wa-l-tanbīhāt, philosophical commentary, aporetic commentary, Sharaf al-Dīn al-Masʿūdī, Prime Matter, concurrentism, efficient causation