The simple ontology of kalăm atomism: an outline.
This paper aims to present concisely the Islamic kalăm atomism as an alternative philosophy to Hellenizing falsafa. Kalăm is a theological-philosophical discourse which, first (in the third/ninth century) ventured to rival the falsafa represented early by al-Kindĭ (d.ca. 252/866), then by al-Fărăbĭ and Avicenna in the fourth/tenth and fifth/ eleventh centuries, and which eventually (in the sixth/twelfth century and after) appeared to be inclined to propose a mingling of the kalăm discourse with falsafa in a series of varied "syntheses".--Focusing on the simple ontology of the basic kalăm atomism, and noting the hybrid character of kalăm, the aim of this paper is to help to clarify the inevitable problematic consequences of those late ventures of Islamic intellectualism.
Sabra
A I
AI
History of Science Department, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. sabra@fas.harvard.edu
D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam / Q000266:history*; D010684:Philosophy / Q000266:history*; D012586:Science / Q000266:history*; D028725:Theology / Q000266:history