Ibn Rushd (Averroes)

Book excerpt: The twelfth-century philosopher Ibn Rushd, also known as Averroes, played a crucial role in the transmission of classical philosophy to Islam, and his work had a profound influence on western scholasticism and on aspects of Renaissance thought. This book, first published in 1991, sets out the main elements of Ibn Rushd¿s work against the historical and cultural background of Muslim Spain. It shows how his writings formed part of the wider movement of Almohadism and seeks to understand the mixed reception of his thought and the rise and fall of his reputation.