Islamic philosophy facts for kids
Islamic philosophy is a way of thinking and exploring big ideas. It grew in places where Islam had a strong influence. It's about understanding the world, God, and how we should live. This kind of deep thinking helped shape Islamic societies.
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What is Islamic Philosophy?
Islamic philosophy is a special kind of thinking. It asks important questions about life and the universe. It tries to find answers using logic and reason. This field of study began a long time ago. It started in Baghdad around the middle of the 700s. This was a time when many new ideas were explored.
The Golden Age of Islamic Thought
The early period of Islamic philosophy was from the 700s to the 1100s. This time is often called the Islamic Golden Age. During this era, scholars made huge advances. They studied many subjects like science, medicine, and mathematics. Philosophy was also a very important part of this exciting time.
Two Main Paths: Falsafa and Kalam
There are two main types of Islamic philosophy. They are called Kalam and Falsafa.
Falsafa: Thinking Like the Ancient Greeks
The word "Falsafa" comes from Greek. It means "philosophy." This type of thinking was very much like the philosophy done in Ancient Greece. Thinkers like Aristotle and Plato inspired many Islamic philosophers. They used logic and reason to understand the world.
Kalam: Debating Big Ideas
"Kalam" literally means "Speech." This type of philosophy uses dialectic. Dialectic is a way of discussing ideas through arguments and counter-arguments. It's like a debate to find the truth.
One of the first big debates in Kalam was about free will.
- One group, called the Qadarites, believed people had free will. This means we can choose our own actions.
- Another group, the Jabarites, believed we do not have free will. They thought everything was already decided.
These discussions were very important. They helped shape how people thought about life and faith.
Images for kids
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A medieval Arabic representation of Aristotle teaching a student.
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Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877–1938) Muslim philosopher, poet and scholar from Pakistan (then British India).
See also
In Spanish: Filosofía islámica para niños
