The Incoherence of the Incoherence

Definition

The Incoherence of the Incoherence is a work by the Islamic philosopher Al-Ghazali, written as a response to the philosophical arguments of the Islamic Neoplatonist philosopher Avicenna. In this work, Al-Ghazali sought to refute Avicenna's philosophical positions and defend the orthodox Islamic view against the perceived incoherence and inconsistencies in Avicenna's philosophical system.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Incoherence of the Incoherence was written by Al-Ghazali as a direct response to Avicenna's philosophical work, 'The Incoherence of the Philosophers,' in which Avicenna had criticized the philosophical positions of earlier Islamic thinkers.
2. Al-Ghazali's main goal in writing The Incoherence of the Incoherence was to defend the orthodox Islamic view against the perceived incoherence and inconsistencies in Avicenna's Neoplatonist philosophical system.
3. The work focuses on refuting Avicenna's arguments on various philosophical topics, such as the nature of God, the creation of the world, the immortality of the soul, and the possibility of miracles.
4. Al-Ghazali's critique of Avicenna's philosophy was influential in the development of Islamic theology and the relationship between reason and revelation in Islamic thought.
5. The Incoherence of the Incoherence is considered a significant work in the history of Islamic philosophy and has had a lasting impact on the intellectual discourse within the Islamic world.

Review Questions

• Explain the historical context and purpose of Al-Ghazali's work, 'The Incoherence of the Incoherence'.
  • Al-Ghazali's 'The Incoherence of the Incoherence' was written as a direct response to the philosophical arguments of the Islamic Neoplatonist thinker, Avicenna. In this work, Al-Ghazali sought to defend the orthodox Islamic view against the perceived incoherence and inconsistencies in Avicenna's philosophical system, which had gained significant influence within the Islamic world. Al-Ghazali's goal was to refute Avicenna's positions on key philosophical topics, such as the nature of God, the creation of the world, and the possibility of miracles, in order to uphold the traditional Islamic understanding of these issues.
• Describe the relationship between Al-Ghazali's 'The Incoherence of the Incoherence' and the development of Islamic theology and the relationship between reason and revelation.
  • Al-Ghazali's 'The Incoherence of the Incoherence' played a significant role in the development of Islamic theology and the ongoing discourse on the relationship between reason and revelation within the Islamic intellectual tradition. By critiquing the philosophical positions of Avicenna and other Neoplatonist thinkers, Al-Ghazali sought to reassert the primacy of revelation over pure reason in matters of theology and metaphysics. His work was influential in shaping the Islamic theological tradition, which emphasized the limits of human reason and the importance of divine revelation in understanding the nature of God, the cosmos, and the human condition.
• Analyze the lasting impact of Al-Ghazali's 'The Incoherence of the Incoherence' on the intellectual discourse within the Islamic world and its significance in the history of Islamic philosophy.
  • Al-Ghazali's 'The Incoherence of the Incoherence' is considered a seminal work in the history of Islamic philosophy, with a lasting impact on the intellectual discourse within the Islamic world. By engaging in a direct critique of Avicenna's Neoplatonist philosophical system, Al-Ghazali's work played a crucial role in shaping the relationship between reason and revelation in Islamic thought. The Incoherence of the Incoherence is recognized as a significant contribution to the ongoing debate within Islamic philosophy, highlighting the tensions between the philosophical pursuit of knowledge and the traditional religious understanding of the world. The work's enduring influence can be seen in its continued relevance and the way it has shaped the trajectory of Islamic intellectual history, even to the present day.

Related terms

Neoplatonism:

A philosophical system that emerged in the 3rd century CE, which synthesized elements of Platonism with other philosophical and religious traditions, including Aristotelian and Stoic thought, as well as elements from Persian and Indian philosophy.

Avicenna:

Also known as Ibn Sina, Avicenna was a prominent Islamic philosopher, physician, and scientist who lived in the 11th century CE. He was a key figure in the development of Islamic Neoplatonism and had a significant influence on both Islamic and Western philosophy.

Al-Ghazali: A renowned Islamic theologian, philosopher, and mystic who lived in the 11th-12th century CE. He is known for his influential work, 'The Incoherence of the Philosophers,' in which he criticized the philosophical positions of Avicenna and other Islamic Neoplatonists.