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The Arabic philosophical fable Hayy Ibn Yaqzan is a classic of medieval Islamic philosophy. Ibn Tufayl (d. 1185), the Andalusian philosopher, tells of a child raised by a doe on an equatorial island who grows up to discover the truth about the world and his own place in it, unaided�but also unimpeded�by society, language, or tradition. Hayy�s discoveries about God, nature, and man challenge the values of the culture in which the tale was written as well as those of every contemporary society.
Goodman�s commentary places Hayy Ibn Yaqzan in its historical and philosophical context. The volume features a new preface and index, and an updated bibliography.
�One of the most remarkable books of the Middle Ages.��Times Literary Supplement
�An enchanting and puzzling story. . . . The book transcends all historical and cultural environments to settle upon the questions of human life that perpetually intrigue men.��Middle East Journal
�Goodman has done a service to the modern English reader by providing a readable translation of a philosophically significant allegory.��Philosophy East and West
�Add[s] bright new pieces to an Islamic mosaic whose general shape is already known.��American Historical Review
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1150
