Islamic Disputation Theory: The Uses & Rules of Argument in Medieval Islam

This book explores the development of Islamic dialectical theory (jadal) over four hundred years, tracing its roots in Aristotle and the classical tradition. It examines how theologians and jurists adopted the dialectic method and applied it to their respective fields, resulting in the emergence of the ādāb al-baḥth as a distinct discipline.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 143 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate evolution of Islamic dialectical theory (jadal) over a span of four centuries. It encompasses a thorough examination of the progression of methods of disputation in Islamic theology (kalām) and jurisprudence (uṣūl al-fiqh) from the tenth to the fourteenth centuries. The author employs the theoretical writings of Islamic theologians, jurists, and philosophers to elucidate the concept.

Overall, this investigation explores the extent to which the development of Islamic modes of disputation is rooted in Aristotle and the classical tradition. The author reconstructs the contents of the earliest systematic treatment of the subject by b. al-Rīwandī, highlighting the similarities and differences between the theological understanding of dialectic and the teachings of Arab Aristotelians such as al-Fārābī, Avicenna, and Averroes.

Subsequently, the monograph demonstrates how jurists embraced the theological method of dialectic and applied it to the unique challenges of jurisprudence. While the earliest writings on dialectic exhibit a relatively limited direct influence from Aristotle, there are instances of thematic and treatment overlaps. However, as jurisprudence assimilated the techniques of theological dialectic, its own theory became increasingly influenced by logical terminology and techniques.

Towards the end of the thirteenth century, a new discipline emerged known as the ādāb al-baḥth. While its theoretical foundations are rooted in Aristotelian philosophy, the terminology and structure of debate within this discipline firmly align it with the Islamic tradition of disputation.

This book serves as a valuable resource for scholars and researchers interested in the history of Islamic thought, the development of dialectical theory, and the intersection of philosophy, theology, and jurisprudence in Islamic civilization.

Weight: 261g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030450144
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020