Warriors Of The Cloisters: The Central Asian Origins Of Science In The Medieval World
by Christopher I. Beckwith /
2012 / English / EPUB
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Warriors of the Cloisters
Warriors of the Cloisters tells how key cultural
innovations from Central Asia revolutionized medieval Europe and
gave rise to the culture of science in the West. Medieval
scholars rarely performed scientific experiments, but instead
contested issues in natural science, philosophy, and theology
using the recursive argument method. This highly distinctive and
unusual method of disputation was a core feature of medieval
science, the predecessor of modern science. We know that the
foundations of science were imported to Western Europe from the
Islamic world, but until now the origins of such key elements of
Islamic culture have been a mystery.
tells how key cultural
innovations from Central Asia revolutionized medieval Europe and
gave rise to the culture of science in the West. Medieval
scholars rarely performed scientific experiments, but instead
contested issues in natural science, philosophy, and theology
using the recursive argument method. This highly distinctive and
unusual method of disputation was a core feature of medieval
science, the predecessor of modern science. We know that the
foundations of science were imported to Western Europe from the
Islamic world, but until now the origins of such key elements of
Islamic culture have been a mystery.
In this provocative book, Christopher I. Beckwith traces how the
recursive argument method was first developed by Buddhist
scholars and was spread by them throughout ancient Central Asia.
He shows how the method was adopted by Islamic Central Asian
natural philosophers--most importantly by Avicenna, one of the
most brilliant of all medieval thinkers--and transmitted to the
West when Avicenna's works were translated into Latin in Spain in
the twelfth century by the Jewish philosopher Ibn Da'ud and
others. During the same period the institution of the college was
also borrowed from the Islamic world. The college was where most
of the disputations were held, and became the most important
component of medieval Europe's newly formed universities. As
Beckwith demonstrates, the Islamic college also originated in
Buddhist Central Asia.
In this provocative book, Christopher I. Beckwith traces how the
recursive argument method was first developed by Buddhist
scholars and was spread by them throughout ancient Central Asia.
He shows how the method was adopted by Islamic Central Asian
natural philosophers--most importantly by Avicenna, one of the
most brilliant of all medieval thinkers--and transmitted to the
West when Avicenna's works were translated into Latin in Spain in
the twelfth century by the Jewish philosopher Ibn Da'ud and
others. During the same period the institution of the college was
also borrowed from the Islamic world. The college was where most
of the disputations were held, and became the most important
component of medieval Europe's newly formed universities. As
Beckwith demonstrates, the Islamic college also originated in
Buddhist Central Asia.
Using in-depth analysis of ancient Buddhist, Classical Arabic,
and Medieval Latin writings,
Using in-depth analysis of ancient Buddhist, Classical Arabic,
and Medieval Latin writings,Warriors of the Cloisters
Warriors of the Cloisters
transforms our understanding of the origins of medieval
scientific culture.
transforms our understanding of the origins of medieval
scientific culture.