Twitter 
StumbleUpon 
Selections: Al-Kindi's Philosophy -1
by Meam Wye
Al-Kindi (Latinized as Alkindus) was a 9th century Arab Muslim polymath with contributions in Mathematics & Cryptography, Physics, Philosophy, Astronomy, Chemistry, environment, meterology, Medicine, Music and Psychology; with a number of treatises in these areas. His total number of books, as mentioned in Ibn Nadim's Fihrist is 241 (less than 40 are extant ), out of which atleast 22 were on philosophy and 9 on logic. 'fi al-falsafat al-awla' (on First Philosophy) is regarded as one of his well-known works.
Excerpts:
On Philosophy:
"Indeed, the human art which is higest in degree and most noble in rank is the art of Philosophy, the definition of which is knowledge of the true nature of things, insofar as is possible for man. The aim of the philospher is, as regards to his knowledge, to attain the truth, and as regards his action, to act truthfully; not that the activity is endless, for we abstain and the activity ceases, once we have reached the truth. We do not find the truth we are seeking without finding the cause; the cause of the existence and continuance of everything is The True One, in that each thing which has being has truth. The True One exists necessarily, and therefore beings exist. The noblest part of philosophy and the highest rank in the First Philosophy, i.e. knowledge of the First Truth who is the cause of all truth."
Arguments against Eternity of the World:
"Now, if there is an infinite body, then whenever a body of finite magnitude is separated from it, that which remains of it will either be a finite magnitude or an infinite magnitude. If that which remains of it is a finite magnitude, then whenever that finite magnitude which is separated from it is added to it, the body which comes to be from them both together is a finite magnitude; though that which comes to be from them both is that which was infinite before something was separated from it. It is thus finite and infinite, and this is an impossible contradiction.”On Truth:
"We ought not to be embarrassed of appreciating the truth and of obtaining it wherever it comes from, even if it comes from races distant and nations different from us. Nothing should be dearer to the seeker of truth than the truth itself, and there is no deterioration of the truth, nor belittling either of one who speaks it or; conveys it."Seeking Knowledge:
"Our residence in this phenomenal world is transitory; it is a journey towards the eternal one. The most miserable man, is he who prefers for himself the material above the spiritual, for the material, apart from its ephemeral nature, obstructs our passage to the spiritual world. Man should not `disregard any means to protect himself against all human vices, and he should seek to rise to the highest ends of human virtues..., that is, to the knowledge by means of which we protect ourselves against spiritual and bodily disease, and acquire the human virtues in whose very essence goodness is grounded"
Read in a Reader
January 11, 2010 11:20 AM
It's hard in this century to imagine someone knowledgeable in so many fields, but even in then it must have been quite an accomplishment.
January 11, 2010 12:06 PM
I love the quote on seeking knowledge. Interesting how the pursuit of happiness is through the spirtual world and not through the material world. Also sad that this was mentioned in the 9th century and people still haven't figured it out.
I also found the thoughts on truth to be interesting and inspiring. Just think how much better this world would be if we all thought that way!
As usual, another great and interesting post!
January 11, 2010 7:28 PM
Thank you ChrisJ for for all the continuous support through your comments. There were many scientists during that period with major accomplishments in multiple and diverse areas. As an example, I've written a post on Avicenna, listing his major known accomplishments in different areas. http://www.shininghistory.com/2009/09/ibn-sina-avicenna.html
January 11, 2010 7:30 PM
Quite true Nathan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
January 21, 2010 12:06 PM
Amazing how fertile and prolific the old philosophers were. They dared to tread ground modern philosophy due to its self-imposed restrictions dare not tread.
January 22, 2010 8:30 PM
@nothingprofound: Nice to have your feedback. Since Philosophy is not my area, I'm not much in a position to fully appreciate the depth of your comment :)