Avicenna and the Aristotelian Left

Ernst Bloch was a significant German thinker of the 20th century who explored utopianism, religious thought, and ontological questions. His book "Avicenna and the Aristotelian Left" argues that medieval Islamic philosopher Avicenna's interpretation of Aristotle undermines clerical and political authority, leading to a radical materialism relevant for critical theory today. Bloch's work transcends the history of ideas, including Averroes, Spinoza, and Marx, and provides a valuable resource for contemporary debates about materialism in critical theory.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 11 December 2018
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Ernst Bloch, a prominent German philosopher of the 20th century, stands as a significant figure, yet his contributions often overshadow those of his contemporaries from the Frankfurt School. Renowned for his engagement with utopianism and religious thought, Bloch also delved into profound ontological inquiries. In his renowned work, "Avicenna and the Aristotelian Left," Bloch offers a captivating account of materialism, tracing the emancipatory elements of modern thought back to the encounter between medieval Islamic philosophers and Aristotle.

Bloch contends that the renowned medieval Islamic philosopher Avicenna (Ibn Sina) sowed the seeds of a radical materialism that remains pertinent to critical theory today. He juxtaposes Avicenna's interpretations of Aristotle on form and matter with Aquinas's to argue that Avicenna's reading democratizes power and undermines clerical and political authority. Bloch delves into the world and metaphysics of Avicenna, demonstrating how even his most intricate theoretical concerns point toward radical social transformation. By traversing the history of ideas, including figures such as Averroes (Ibn Rushd), Spinoza, and Marx, as well as lesser-known figures, Bloch establishes an original path that contributes to our understanding of materialism in critical theory.

"Avicenna and the Aristotelian Left," translated into English for the first time, serves as a concise summation of Bloch's unique materialism, a provocative reinterpretation of the Western philosophical tradition in the light of its exchanges with Islamic thought, and a valuable resource for contemporary debates about materialism within critical discourse.

Weight: 200g
Dimension: 142 x 214 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231175357