The Formation of Post-Classical Philosophy in Islam

by Frank Griffel

Scholars have come to recognize the importance of classical Islamic philosophy both in its own right and in its preservation of and engagement with Greek philosophical ideas. At the same time, the period immediately following the so-called classical era has been considered a sort of dark age, in which Islamic thought entered a long decline. In this monumental new work, Frank Griffel seeks to overturn this conventional wisdom, arguing that what he calls the "post-classical" period has been unjustly maligned and neglected by previous generations of scholars.

The Formation of Post-Classical Philosophy in Islam is a comprehensive study of the far-reaching changes that led to a re-shaping of the philosophical discourse in Islam during the twelfth century. Earlier Western scholars thought that Islam's engagement with the tradition of Greek philosophy ended during that century. More recent analyses suggest that Islamic thinkers instead integrated Greek thought into the genre of rationalist Muslim theology ( kalām ). Griffel argues that even this new view misses a key point. In addition to the integration of Greek ideas into kalām , Muslim theologians picked up the discourse of classical philosophy in Islam ( falsafa ) and began to produce books in the tradition of Plato, Aristotle, and Avicenna―a new and oft-misunderstood genre they called " .hikma "―in which they left aside theological concerns. They wrote in both genres, kalām and .hikma , and the same writers argued for opposing teachings on the nature of God, the world's creation, and t
depending on the genre in which they were writing. Griffel shows how careful attention to genre demonstrates both the coherence and ambiguity of this new philosophical approach.

A work of extraordinary breadth and depth, The Formation of Post-Classical Philosophy in Islam offers a detailed, insightful history of philosophy in Iraq, Iran, and Central Asia during the twelfth century. It will be essential reading for anyone interested in the history of philosophy or the history of Islam.

Genres: Philosophy, Islam, Religion, Nonfiction

664 pages, Hardcover

Published July 1, 2021

About the author

Frank Griffel studied philosophy, Arabic literature, and Islamic studies at universities in Göttingen (Germany), Damascus, Berlin, and London. He received his PhD in 1999 from the Free University in Berlin. In his thesis he researched about the development of the judgment of apostasy in classical Islam. After a short period as a research fellow at the Orient Institute of the German Oriental Society in Beirut, Lebanon, he came in 2000 to Yale where he teaches courses on the intellectual history of Islam, its theology (both classical and modern), and the way Islamic thinkers react to Western modernity.

Reviews

[Arman Firman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was eagerly waiting for a new solo work of Frank Griffel. I finished his first book, al-Ghazali's Philosophical Theology, just this year. Was thinking that it has been 12 years since he wrote a solo book! Why hasn't he written something new? Finally he writes, and he gifts us 600 pages of brilliance!

I was so excited to find out about this book. Feeling great after finishing it.

The book discusses philosophical theology in the 12th century. Mainly focuses on Abul Barakat Baghdadi and Fakhr al-Din Razi. Some discussion also exists on Ghazali, ibn Sina, Suhrawardi, Sharaf al-Din Masudi and few others.

Though the book is very long, it doesn't give much information. It only discusses a small portion of Islamic philosophy in the 12th century, only a small part of Baghdadi and Razi's thinking. But the handful of stuff it does discuss, is in depth. And of course, qualitative study is much more important than quantitative study. One should keep in mind, as the name suggests, the book doesn't discuss post classical Islamic philosophy, it discusses the *formation* of post classical Islamic philosophy.

Anyways, now I'm eagerly waiting for prof Griffel's next work! And we need studies which follows Griffel's work and discusses what happened after the 12th century, on what happened after the "formation".

[Shershah Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently reading "The Formation of Post Classical Philosophy in Islam. I am thankful to Professor Griffel for devoting his lifetime to Al-Ghazali and the Islamic intellectual history. This book is a masterpiece, a must-read for every student interested in the Islamic intellectual tradition after Al-Ghazali(d. 1111) in the 12th century.

The Post-classical philosophy emerged due to the clash between Ibn Sina and Al-Ghazali and afterward, we see four intellectual projects emerging.
1) Fakhr ad-din Al Razi (d. 1210)
2) Abu Barakat al Baghdadi
3) Al Suhrwardi
4) Al-Ghazali's students.
Avicennism also thrives even after Al-Ghazali. Avicenna's students like Al-Lawkari and various others were present and influential.

This book also debunks the famous myth of intellectual decline in the Muslim world due to Al-Ghazali's criticism of the falasifa (Avicennism).
Griffel says,
"Philosophy did not disappear after al-Ghazali. In fact, the period after Ghazali is full of philosophical works[...] The existence of philosophy after Al-Ghazali is so obvious that we must ask how it could have been overlooked for so long." (p. 8)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Abdullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Griffel’s work is nothing short of a masterpiece, marked by the profound depth and rigor of his scholarship. His earlier book on Imam Ghazali stands out as one of the finest academic contributions to understanding Ghazali’s thought. Over a decade later, he has gifted us another remarkable work, this time exploring the formation of post-classical philosophy in Islam. The book argues that this intellectual shift was largely shaped by figures like Abul Barakat Al-Bagdadi and, more significantly, Fakhruddin Razi. In response to the fierce critiques of falsafa (philosophy) by Ghazali and his followers, such as Ibn Gaylan, a new philosophical tradition emerged. This tradition, known as hikmah, remained largely Avicennian in spirit, though it occasionally diverged from Ibn Sina’s views.
Spanning 600 pages and divided into three chapters, the book is a treasure trove of insights. The first chapter sets the stage, providing the historical and intellectual context of post-classical philosophy. The second chapter delves into the key philosophers and their ideas during this transformative period. Finally, the third chapter traces the emergence of hikmah as a distinct philosophical genre. Griffel’s work offers a glimpse into a pivotal moment in the history of Islamic thought. I only wish he had extended his exploration to later post-classical philosophers like Abhari, Katibi, and others. But as the title suggests, the focus is on the formation of this philosophical tradition, so it’s understandable why he stops where he does. Still, it leaves the reader yearning for more.
What sets Griffel apart is the sheer quality and depth of his research. His writing is not just informative but also a testament to what academic rigor should look like. I’m already looking forward to his next articles and books, hoping they’ll continue to shed light on the world of islamic intellectual history with the same clarity.

[Colinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply brilliant!