"Avicenna and Medieval Muslim Philosophy"
Reviewer Luis Vivanco
February 05, 2010
For whom it would be best to recommend this audio book?
I have heard it a lot in the last years, in its cassette form. As a professor of philosophy and founder of a chair of Arabic and Jewish Philosophy in my University at Maracaibo, Venezuela, I find it most useful. Not, maybe, for a general public, even if they are cultured or proffessionals (doctors, lawyers, and such): even with enough free time to spare, and curiosity and good will, and though in many parts they would find its contents very interesting and even fascinating, on the whole I think they would not resist the difficulty of the subjects on which the contents dealt upon. Not because of lack of the presentation itself; indeed, the most attractive asset of it is that it is very complete and intellectually available to many. But the subjects itselves are too deep and complex to be able to sum in a very simple and easy way. Nevertheless, I find it most useful for the students of philosophy, and especially those who are beginning to tackle some themes in Islamic and Arabic philosophy.
The greatest merit of this presentation, in fact, the greatest merit of any presentation on philosophy, be it in audio or written form, is that it can be an invitation to go on with the reading and the thinking on the themes and subjects exposed. If the presentation can lay a grip on our intellect, if the ideas exposed stay on our mind, being discussed internally or outspokenly, If after listening the presentation we are driven to read and learn more about the subject, then the work is done, and masterly. And I think this presentation reaches that goal, and that is its biggest merit.
Of course, my observations are very parochial, for it is a presentation in English, and I have rated it mostly through the impact on people who can read or hear English, which in my country are a very small minority, even at graduate level. But for those who can make the effort or hearing it with a basic proficiency in English, it has been very beneficial.
Though we are talking about an audio presentation, it would be advisable to attach some written information about the subjects contained: bibliographical references and such, which are so useful for students and professors alike.