Ibn Bajjah (d. 1138)
Etymology
Ibn Bajjah (ابن باجة) is a common Arabic patronymic, where “Ibn” means “son of” and “Bajjah” is a variation of the name “Bajah”. His full name is Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Yahia ibn al-Sayigh (أبو بكر محمد بن يحيى بن الصائغ), and he is also known by his Latinized name, Avempace.
Biography
Ibn Bajjah was born in Saragossa (present-day Zaragoza), Spain, and died in Fez, Morocco, in 1138. He is recognized as the first notable philosopher and physician of Muslim Spain, contributing significantly to Islamic philosophy and science during the medieval period.
Principal Works
Paraphrases and Commentaries
Ibn Bajjah wrote detailed paraphrases and commentaries on several of Aristotle’s works, including:
- Physics
- Meteorology
- On Generation and Corruption
- De Plantis (a spurious work attributed to Aristotle)
Additionally, he composed extensive glosses on the logic of Al-Farabi, one of the most influential philosophers in the Islamic world.
Original Works
Conduct of the Solitary (تدبير المتوحد)
This political treatise addresses the difficulties faced by philosophers in an imperfect state and reflects on the possibility of achieving philosophical aspirations despite these challenges.
Conjunction with the Active Intellect (الاتصال بالعقل الفعال)
A short treatise that explores the theme of the ‘Active Intellect,’ a concept central to Neoplatonism and Islamic philosophy. It delves into the process and significance of intellectual conjunction, a recurring theme for Muslim Neoplatonists.
Influence and Legacy
Ibn Bajjah’s work not only influenced his contemporaries but also resonated with later Muslim and Western philosophers. His methodologies and treatments of political and metaphysical issues contributed to both the Islamic Golden Age and the broader philosophical discourses of the time.
Books for Further Studies
- “The Political Aspects of Islamic Philosophy: Essays in Honor of Muhsin S. Mahdi” by Charles E. Butterworth
- “Islamic Philosophy and the Classical Tradition: Essays presented by His Friends and Pupils to Richard Walzer on His Seventieth Birthday” by S. M. Stern, Albert Hourani, and Vivian Brown30, 1972.
- “The Muslim West and the Rest: Reciprocal Perceptions, Essays in Honor of Ahmad al-Arnaout”
Takeaways and Conclusion
Ibn Bajjah stands out as a pioneering figure in the confluence of Islamic and classical philosophy. His contributions laid critical groundwork for subsequent Islamic philosophers and scholars who continued to engage deeply with Aristotelian and Neoplatonic thought through the lens of their faith and intellectual traditions.
This entry aims to encapsulate the essential details regarding Ibn Bajjah, reflecting his scholarly and philosophical ingenuity while also providing guidance for further study.
