The Incoherence of the Incoherence

Introduction

Averroes’ Arabic reply to al-Ghazali, written around 1180, follows the attacked book discussion by discussion. He quotes passages from al-Ghazali, sometimes from the philosophers as al-Ghazali presented them, and then gives his answer. Two lines of argument run through it: many of the theses al-Ghazali attacked are Avicenna’s and not Aristotle’s, and his objections are dialectical rather than strictly demonstrative. On causality Averroes argues that denying necessary causes would destroy all knowledge. Through Hebrew and Latin translations the work reached medieval Europe, where it was known as “Destructio destructionum”.

Connections

Responds to

• The Incoherence of the Philosophers1095 · al-Ghazali

Taken up in

• The Formation of Arab Reason1984 · Mohammed Abed al-Jabri

More works by Ibn Rushd (Averroes)

• c. 1179The Decisive Treatise (Fasl al-maqal)
• c. 1190Long Commentaries on Aristotle

Appears in

• Journey ‘The Journey of Aristotle’ · Stop 6 of 9