Ibn Rushd Averroes And His Impact In The West

Ibn Rushd, known more commonly as Averroes in European Literature, was a 12th century Muslim polymath who made enormous contributions to both the Islamic and Christian worlds. However the same people who were in awe of his work, later reviled him.

Born in Cordoba, Andalusia, at a time when southern Spain was ruled by the Moors, Averroes was born into a world where philosophy and science were starting to decline in the Muslim world but just starting to flourish in the Western world. Averroes initially enjoyed much favour amongst the courts of the day as a physician and a man of learning. Through his studies, Averroes became a passionate student of the teachings of Aristotle and began to vigorously defend Aristotelian rationality in the face of encroaching Islamic conservatism. Just a few years before his birth, the Islamic scholar Al-Ghazali had forcefully argued that such teachings were an affront to Islam, and Averroes spent much of his life defending the value of rational philosophy as opposed to blind religious faith.
Averroes is, in a way, a liminal figure who slipped between the entwined histories of East and West. He was famous in his day and enjoyed the patronage of the Caliphs in Marrakesh, where he was able to influence educational matters and promote harmony between philosophy and religion. Eventually though, his liberalising influence on the government was condemned by the people and he was formally exiled; his teachings were banned, and his writings burned. As the global structures of power and knowledge started to shift from East to West, Ibn Rushd’s teachings were adopted throughout Christendom while they were forgotten in the Arab world. The Catholic Encyclopedia writes that because ‘his works were consigned to the flames… he left no school, and the end of the dominion of the Moors in Spain, which occurred shortly afterwards, turned the current of Averroism completely into Hebrew and Latin channels, through which it influenced the thought of Christian Europe down to the dawn of the modern era.’

His translations and commentaries on Aristotle (in Latin) were directly responsible for renewed interest in his work in Europe and could be said to have helped pave the way for the Renaissance. He was referred to by Thomas Aquinas as ‘The Commentator’ for his work on Aristotle, and Dante’s roll-call of influential pagan philosophers in The Divine Comedy ends ‘with him who made that commentary vast, Averroes.’
Image courtesy 1: Jcb/WikiCommons, 2: Monfredo de Monte Imperiali/WikiCommons

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.