Al-Ghazali's Philosophical Theology

Summary

In this episode of the McMillan Report, Marilyn Wilks interviews Professor Frank Griffel, an expert in Islamic Studies at Yale University. They discuss his new book on Al-Ghazali, a pivotal Islamic theologian and philosopher. Griffel explains Al-Ghazali’s influence on Islamic thought, particularly his integration of Aristotelian philosophy and Islamic theology. He also shares his research approach, including the use of manuscripts, and debunks the notion that Al-Ghazali undermined science. Instead, Al-Ghazali supported scientific inquiry, seeing it as compatible with a theological understanding of the universe's creation.

Takeaways

• 📚 Al-Gazali is one of the most important Islamic theologians and thinkers, widely read in the Islamic world since the 12th century.
• 🔍 Professor Frank Griffel's new book explores Al-Gazali's philosophical theology, focusing on his role in Islamic intellectual history.
• 🌍 Al-Gazali lived during a period of lively intellectual activity in the Islamic world, which contrasts with the European Dark Ages at the time.
• 🧐 Griffel's research challenges the traditional view that Al-Gazali opposed and 'defeated' Islamic philosophy, especially the Aristotelian tradition.
• 📖 Griffel worked extensively with manuscripts, finding that many of Al-Gazali’s works remain in manuscripts and some printed texts are unreliable.
• 🔄 Al-Gazali played a pivotal role in transforming Islamic philosophy into a more theological discourse, integrating philosophy into Islamic theology.
• 💡 Al-Gazali's cosmology blends two views of creation: God creating the world anew every moment and God as the initiator of causal chains in the universe.
• 📝 Griffel's book emphasizes Al-Gazali’s influence on his students and how his teachings were interpreted by early followers.
• ⏳ New sources, such as Al-Gazali's Persian letters, provide fresh insights into his life and thoughts, including a correction of his birth date.
• 🧪 Contrary to popular belief, Al-Gazali supported scientific inquiry, with a cosmological view that aligns with modern concepts like the Big Bang.

Q & A

Who is Al-Ghazali?

Al-Ghazali is one of the most important theologians and thinkers in the Islamic world. He lived at the turn of the 12th century, a period marked by intellectual activity in the Islamic world, and his works have been widely read throughout history.

What inspired Professor Frank Griffel to write his book on Al-Ghazali?

Professor Griffel was inspired by Al-Ghazali's significance in Islamic theology and intellectual history. He was particularly interested in how Al-Ghazali serves as a bridge between Aristotelian philosophy (falsafa) and Islamic theology.

What does Professor Griffel's research challenge about the traditional view of Al-Ghazali?

Griffel's research challenges the traditional view that Al-Ghazali destroyed Islamic philosophy. Instead, he argues that while Al-Ghazali criticized aspects of philosophy, he also integrated philosophical ideas into Islamic theology.

What methodology did Professor Griffel use for his research on Al-Ghazali?

Griffel used intellectual history methods, focusing on reading and analyzing texts. He also worked extensively with manuscripts, particularly those not yet printed, in European and Middle Eastern libraries.

How does Professor Griffel’s view of Al-Ghazali differ from the classical view?

The classical view suggests that Islamic philosophy declined due to a focus on religious literature like the Quran. Griffel, however, argues that philosophy transitioned into rationalist theological discourse, and Al-Ghazali played a crucial role in this transformation.

What is the significance of Al-Ghazali’s book criticizing philosophers like Ibn Sina?

Al-Ghazali’s book criticizing Ibn Sina (Avicenna) is often seen as a complete refutation of Arabic philosophy, but Griffel argues that it was more nuanced. Al-Ghazali criticized certain aspects of philosophy while integrating other ideas into Islamic thought.

What conclusions does Professor Griffel reach in his book regarding Al-Ghazali's cosmology?

Griffel concludes that Al-Ghazali held both views of cosmology: occasionalism, where God creates the world anew in every moment, and the idea of secondary causality, where God uses causal chains to govern the world.

How does Professor Griffel use Al-Ghazali’s students to understand his teachings?

Griffel analyzed writings from Al-Ghazali's students and early followers to determine how they interpreted his teachings. This helped him reconcile some of the apparent contradictions in Al-Ghazali's works.

What is occasionalism, and how does it relate to Al-Ghazali's view of cosmology?

Occasionalism is the belief that God creates every object and event in the world anew at every moment. Al-Ghazali supported this view, but Griffel argues that he also accepted a version of causal chains in which God creates the causes and effects that unfold in the world.

What was one of the most surprising findings in Professor Griffel's research?

One surprising finding was that Al-Ghazali was born on a different date than commonly believed. Another was the realization that Al-Ghazali had a modern view of science, supporting its development rather than opposing it.