Ibn Bajja (Avempace)
In a corrupt society the philosopher must live as a solitary, perfecting the mind until it joins the universal intellect.
Placement
The first major philosopher of al-Andalus, read by Ibn Tufayl and Averroes: in an imperfect city, the philosopher must live as a “solitary” and seek union with the active intellect.
Key ideas
- The regime of the solitary
- Conjunction with the active intellect
Influence
Influenced by 2
Aristotle
influenced by
Ibn Bajja commented on Aristotle’s Physics and On the Soul; his objection that motion in a void need not be instantaneous was reported and discussed by Averroes. E. A. Moody, “Galileo and Avempace”, Journal of the History of Ideas 12 (1951); SEP “Ibn Bajja [Avempace]”
Evidence: AI draft
Aristotle › 384–322 BCE
al-Farabi
influenced by ✓
Ibn Bajja annotated al-Farabi’s logical writings and, in The Governance of the Solitary, adapted al-Farabi’s virtuous city to the philosopher living in imperfect cities. Ibn Bajja, Tadbir al-mutawahhid; glosses on al-Farabi’s logic, ed. M. Fakhry (1994); SEP “Ibn Bajja [Avempace]”
Evidence: also in Wikidata · Wikidata
al-Farabi › c. 872–950
Influenced 3
Ibn Tufayl
influenced
In the introduction to Hayy ibn Yaqzan Ibn Tufayl praised Ibn Bajja’s mind but held that he reached rational knowledge, not mystical experience, and left his works unfinished. Ibn Tufayl, Hayy ibn Yaqzan, introduction, tr. L. E. Goodman (1972); SEP “Ibn Tufayl”
Evidence: AI draft
Ibn Tufayl › c. 1105–1185
Ibn Rushd (Averroes)
influenced ✓
Averroes took up Ibn Bajja’s account of the intellect’s conjunction with the Active Intellect and discussed his views on motion in the void in his Physics commentary. Ibn Rushd, Long Commentary on the Physics; Long Commentary on De anima; SEP “Ibn Bajja [Avempace]”
Ibn Rushd (Averroes) › 1126–1198
Maimonides
influenced ✓
Maimonides cited Ibn Bajja (Abu Bakr ibn al-Saigh) in the Guide on astronomy and the intellect, and in his letter to Ibn Tibbon praised him as a philosopher. Maimonides, Guide of the Perplexed (c. 1190); letter to Samuel ibn Tibbon (1199); S. Pines, “The Philosophic Sources of The Guide of the Perplexed” (1963)
Evidence: also in Wikidata · Wikidata
Maimonides › 1138–1204
Works
How the philosopher can live well in an imperfect city – as a solitary “weed”.
Position
Ibn Bajja was the first major philosopher of al-Andalus, building on al-Farabi and Aristotle. The Regime of the Solitary asks how a philosopher can live well in a city that is not virtuous. Such people are like “weeds”, growing where no one sowed them; they must govern themselves, keep apart from the opinions of the crowd and devote themselves to knowledge. The goal is conjunction with the active intellect, in which the mind grasps pure intelligible forms – the highest happiness open to a human being. His ideas on motion, transmitted through Averroes, were still debated by Latin scholastics, and his thought shaped Ibn Tufayl and Averroes.
Life & context
Abu Bakr ibn Bajja, known in Latin as Avempace, was born in Saragossa in the late eleventh century and served as vizier to its Almoravid governor. After the city fell to the Christians in 1118 he lived in Seville, Granada and finally Fez as a physician and official, and was imprisoned more than once. Also a poet and musician, he died in Fez in 1138, reportedly poisoned.
Further main works
- Letter of Farewell (Risalat al-wada, early 12th century)
- On the Conjunction of the Intellect with Man (early 12th century)
- Commentaries on Aristotle’s Physics and other works (early 12th century)
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