ISLA 345: Science & Civilization in Islam F. J. Ragep TTh 11:35-12:55; Birks 203 Fall 2014 Off. Hrs: TTh 2:00-4:00 & by appt: Morrice Hall 320 ([email protected])
Reading Material A. The following books are available in the bookstore [B]: Peter E. Pormann and Emilie Savage-Smith, Medieval Islamic Medicine (required) J. L. Berggren, Episodes in the Mathematics of Medieval Islam (required) B. The following are on reserve in the Islamic Studies library [R]: J. L. Berggren, Episodes in the Mathematics of Medieval Islam Ahmad S. Dallal, Islam, Science, and the Challenge of History: The Terry Lectures Frank Griffel, Al-Ghazālī’s Philosophical Theology Dimitri Gutas, Greek Thought, Arabic Culture: The Graeco-Arabic Translation Movement in Baghdad and Early ʿAbbāsid Society (2nd-4th/8th-10th Centuries) Dimitri Gutas, Avicenna and the Aristotelian Tradition: Introduction to Reading Avicenna’s Philosophical Works (2nd edition, 2014) Pervez Hoodbhoy, Islam and Science: Religious Orthodoxy and the Battle for Rationality George F. Hourani, Averroes on the Harmony of Religion and Philosophy Ibn Khaldūn, The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History B. F. Musallam, Sex and Society in Islam Peter E. Pormann and Emilie Savage-Smith, Medieval Islamic Medicine F. J. Ragep, Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī’s Memoir on Astronomy (al-Tadhkira) Franz Rosenthal, The Classical Heritage in Islam A. I. Sabra, The Optics of Ibn Al-Haytham Aydın Sayılı, The Observatory in Islam [A course packet of readings] D. Readings from myCourses are indicated by [E]
Class Schedule I. Sept. 2, 4: Introduction to Islamic Science and Civilization Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, “Islamic Culture and the Natural Sciences” [Intro; The Historical and Cultural Background], pp. 27-33 [B, R] Berggren, Episodes, pp. 1-28 [E] F. J. Ragep, “When Did Islamic Science Die? (And Who Cares?)” http://islamsci.mcgill.ca/Viewpoint_ragep.pdf
II. Sept. 9: Rationality Homegrown: Religious Knowledge within Islam Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, “Islamic Culture and the Natural Sciences” [The Theological (Kalām) Approach to the Phenomenal World], pp. 53-57 [E] N. Heer, “A Lecture on Islamic Theology” http://faculty.washington.edu/heer/theology-sep.pdf
III. Sept. 11, 16: The Meaning of Knowledge in Islamic Civilization (Classification of the Sciences) Readings: [E] Sabra, “The Appropriation and Subsequent Naturalization of Greek Science in Medieval Islam,” pp. 3-27 [original pagination: 223-243] [E,R] Rosenthal, Classical Heritage in Islam, pp. 52-73; 74-82; 114-116
IV. Sept. 18, 23: Secular Knowledge in Islamic Civilization: Sources and Motivations Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, “Islamic Culture and the Natural Sciences” [The Translation of Greek Natural Philosophy into Arabic: Background&Motivations; Translators&Their Patrons], pp. 34-40 [E, R] Rosenthal, Classical Heritage, pp. 1-23
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V. Sept. 25, 30: Secular Knowledge in Islamic Civilization: Doctrines and Champions Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, “Islamic Culture and the Natural Sciences” [The Natural Philosophy Tradition in Islam; Defenders and Practitioners of Natural Philosophy; Transformations…], pp. 40-53, 57-61 [E] Sabra, “Some Remarks on Al-Kindī...” [7 pp.] [E] J. McGinnis, “Arabic and Islamic Natural Philosophy and Natural Science,” http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/arabic-islamic-natural/
VI. Oct. 2, 7: Interactions of Science and Religion in Islam Readings: [E] “The Attack of al-Ghazzālī upon Philosophers and Response of Averroes” [4 pp] [E] Averroes, “Decisive Treatise,” in George Hourani, Averroes on the Harmony of Religion and Philosophy, pp. 50-62 [E] Ibn Khaldūn, The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History, pp. 258-264 [E] F. Griffel, “Al-Ghazali,” http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/al-ghazali/
VII. Oct. 9, 14: Institutions and Individuals Readings: [E] I. Fazlioğlu, “The Samarqand Mathematical-Astronomical School” http://islamsci.mcgill.ca/Fazlioglu.pdf [E] F. Charette, “The Locales of Islamic Astronomical Instrumentation,” pp.123-138 [E] Avicenna, Autobiography (trans. D. Gutas) [E] Prologue to al-Ghāfiqī’s Herbal (trans. F.J. Ragep) [E] “A Newly Found Letter of al-Kāshī” (trans. M. Bagheri)
MIDTERM EXAM: Thursday, Oct. 16
VIII. Oct. 21, 23: March 1: Medicine and Biology Readings: [B] P. Pormann and E. Savage-Smith, Medieval Islamic Medicine [E] B. Musallam, Sex and Society in Islam, pp. 10-59 [159-183]
PAPER: Due Oct. 28 [on Sex and Society]
IX. Oct. 28, 30: Optics and Vision Readings: [E] Sabra, “Optics, Islamic,” pp. 179-186 [E, R] Sabra, The Optics of Ibn al-Haytham, pp. 3-6, 63-70, 113, 126-138, 200-206
X. Nov. 4, 6, 11: Mathematics Readings: [B, R] Berggren, Episodes, pp. 29-48, 63-67, 99-108, 124-125, 127-135 MATHEMATICS ASSIGNMENT Due November 13
XI. Nov. 13, 18, 20, 25: Astronomy Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, “Astronomy” Encyclopedia of Islam, 3d ed. http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/uid=1417/entry?entry=ei3_COM-22652 [E] Ibn al-Haytham’s Introduction to Doubts Concerning Ptolemy [E, R] F. J. Ragep, Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī’s Memoir, pp. 90-112, 158-160 (para. 25 only), 194-204 [B, R] Berggren, Episodes, pp. 141-143, 165-173, 176-186 ASTRONOMY ASSIGNMENT Due November 27
XII. Nov. 27, Dec. 2: Transmission, Mutual Influence, and Modern Repercussions Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, “Copernicus and His Islamic Predecessors,” pp.65- 81 [E, R] Dallal, Islam, Science, and the Challenge of History, ch. 4 (pp. 149-176)
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ISLA 345: Science & Civilization in Islam F. J. Ragep TTh 11:35-12:55; Birks 203 Fall 2014
Course Information
1. Office Hrs: TTh 2:00-4:00 and by appointment. [Morrice Hall 320]
2. Generally, readings should be completed by the beginning of the week in which they are assigned.
3. Make-up of an examination, or late submission of papers, will be permitted without penalty only in cases of serious illness or emergency (such as a death in the family); approval for such a make-up exam or late essay submission must be obtained in advance in all but highly exceptional cases.
4. Late submissions of assignments or papers will be accepted but will be penalized a half letter-grade (or 5 points on a 100 scale) for every day it is late, up to a maximum of 50% penalty. Missed exams (other than the final) that are unexcused may (and should) be made up; they will be given 50% credit.
5. McGill is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course are requested to speak with the professor as early in the semester as possible. It would be helpful if you contact the Office for Students with Disabilities at 398-6009 (online at http://www.mcgill.ca/osd) before you do this.
6. In accord with McGill University’s Charter of Students’ Rights, students in this course have the right to submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded. Conformément à la Charte des droits de l’étudiant de l’Université McGill, chaque étudiant a le droit de soumettre en français ou en anglais tout travail écrit devant être noté.
7. Permission from the instructor is needed for taping of Lectures.
8. Instructor generated course materials (e.g., handouts, notes, summaries, exam questions, etc.) are protected by law and may not be copied or distributed in any form or in any medium without explicit permission of the instructor. Note that infringements of copyright can be subject to follow up by the University under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.
9. Grading: Midterm exam (Oct. 16) 15% Analytical paper (on Sex and Society) [ca. 6-8 pages] (due Oct. 28) 10% Two assignments on Math and Astronomy (due Nov. 13 and Nov. 27) 15% Research paper [ca. 10-15 pages] (final draft due Dec. 4) 20% Final Exam 25% The remaining 15% of the grade will be discretionary, being based 15% upon class attendance and participation in discussions.
10. McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest/ for more information).
11. In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the University’s control, the content and/or evaluation scheme in this course is subject to change.
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