Islamic philosophers
Muslim philosophers both profess Islam and engage in a style of philosophy situated within the structure of the Arabic language and Islam, though not necessarily concerned with religious issues. The sayings of the companions of Muhammad contained little philosophical discussion.
7 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
Al-Biruni
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Central Asian polymath al-Biruni and his 11th-century book India, one of the first scholarly works about the country.
10 June 2010
Featuring: James Montgomery, Hugh Kennedy, Amira Bennison
CultureIslamic philosophersAlchemists of the medieval Islamic worldCritics of deismAstronomical instrument makersPsychology in the medieval Islamic worldAstronomers of the medieval Islamic worldExplorers of AsiaMuslim critics of atheism, AsharisMedieval Iranian pharmacologists, Transoxanian Islamic scholarsAl-Ghazali
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Islamic scholar Al-Ghazali, one of the most significant and influential philosophers of the Middle Ages.
19 March 2015
Featuring: Peter Adamson, Carole Hillenbrand, Robert Gleave
Al-Kindi
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the life and work of Al-Kindi, often described as the first philosopher in the Arabic tradition.
28 June 2012
Featuring: Hugh Kennedy, James Montgomery, Amira Bennison
PhilosophyOntologistsPhilosophers of religionMetaphysiciansPhilosophers of scienceEpistemologistsPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of mathematicsAristotelian philosophersPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of psychologyPhilosophers of artIslamic philosophersMetaphysics writersIntellectual historyAlchemists of the medieval Islamic world9th-century philosophersArabic-language commentators on AristotleAstronomers of the medieval Islamic worldMusic theorists of the medieval Islamic worldAverroes
Melvyn Bragg discusses the philosopher Averroes who worked to reconcile the theology of Islam with the rationality of Aristotle, achieving both fame and infamy.
5 October 2006
Featuring: Amira Bennison, Peter Adamson, Anthony Kenny
PhilosophySocial philosophersOntologistsPhilosophers of literaturePhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of scienceEpistemologistsAristotelian philosophersLogiciansPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of psychologyPolitical philosophersPhilosophers of languageIslamic philosophersCritics of atheismCritics of ChristianityCritics of deismPeople from Córdoba, Spain12th-century Muslim theologiansArabic-language commentators on AristotlePhilosophers from al-AndalusAvicenna
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Avicenna, among the most important philosophers in the history of Islam.
8 November 2007
Featuring: Peter Adamson, Amira Bennison, Nader El-Bizri
PhilosophyOntologistsPhilosophers of mindPhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of scienceEpistemologistsPhilosophers of mathematicsAristotelian philosophersLogiciansPhilosophers of logicPhilosophers of psychologyIslamic philosophersClassical humanistsCritics of atheismCourt physiciansAlchemists of the medieval Islamic worldMusic theorists of the medieval Islamic worldIranian logicians, Iranian ethicistsMedieval Iranian pharmacologists, Transoxanian Islamic scholarsIbn Khaldun
Melvyn Bragg and guests Robert Hoyland, Robert Irwin and Hugh Kennedy discuss the life and ideas of the 14th-century Arab philosopher of history Ibn Khaldun.
4 February 2010
Featuring: Robert Hoyland, Robert Graham Irwin, Hugh N. Kennedy
Rumi's Poetry
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the poetry of Rumi, the Persian scholar and Sufi mystic of the 13th century, whose great poetic works are the Masnavi and the Divan.
11 February 2016
Featuring: Alan Williams, Carole Hillenbrand, Lloyd Ridgeon