Explores the use of allegory in the writing of the renowned eleventh-century Muslim philosopher known in the West as Avicenna, paying special attention to the ways he influenced theological, mystical, and literary thought in subsequent Islamic—and Western—intellectual and religious history.

Allegory and Philosophy in Avicenna (Ibn Sînâ)
With a Translation of the Book of the Prophet Muhammad's Ascent to Heaven

Peter Heath

1992 | 272 pages | Cloth $45.00
Philosophy | Religion | Literature
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Table of Contents

Note on Transliteration and Dates
List of Abbreviations
Journals and Reference Works
Titles of Works by Avicenna
Preface

PART I. INTRODUCTION
1. Avicenna and Islamic Allegory
2. Avicenna: Courtier, Physician, Philosopher

PART II. ALLEGORY AND PHILOSOPHY
3. The Structure and Representation of the Cosmos
4. Avicenna's Theory of the Soul
5. Avicenna's Theory of Knowledge

PART III. THE MI'RÂJ NÂMA
6. Translation of the Mi'râj Nâma
7. The Translation of the Mi'râj Nâma (The Book of the Prophet
Muhammad's Ascent to Heaven)

PART IV. INTERPRETATION AND ALLEGORY
7. The Interpretation and Function of Allegory
8. Allegory and Allegoresis

APPENDICES
Appendix A On Allegory
Appendix B On the Attribution of the Mi'râj Nâma
Appendix C The Manuscripts
Appendix D The Text of Avicenna's Version of the Mi'râj (without his attendant commentary)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX