Encyclopedia of Philosophy: AVERROES

Abelard was far the most brilliant Christian thinker of the twelfth century. The other significant philosophers of the age were the Arab Averroes and the Jew Maimonides. Both of them were natives of Cordoba in Muslim Spain, then the foremost centre of artistic and literary culture in the whole of Europe.  Averroes’ real name was Ibn Rushd. He was born in 1126, the son and grand-son of lawyers and judges. Little certain is known about his education, but he acquired a knowledge of medicine which he incorporated into a textbook called Kulliyat. He travelled to Marrakesh, where he secured the patronage of the sultan. The sighting there of a star not visible in Spain convinced him of the truth of Aristotle’s claim that the world was round. He acquired a great enthusiasm for all of Aristotle’s philosophy, and the caliph encouraged him to begin work on a series of commentaries on the philosopher’s treatises.  In 1169 Averroes was appointed a judge in Seville; later he returned to Cordoba and was promoted to chief judge. However, he retained his links with Marrakesh, and went back there to die in 1198, having fallen under suspicion of heresy.