Al-Ghazali
The Aims of the Philosophers
Written work
The Aims of the Philosophers
مقاصد الفلاسفة (Maqasid al-falasifa)
A clear and orderly summary of Avicennian philosophy in three parts (logic, metaphysics and physics), written, according to its preface, so that the later refutation would not attack what it had not understood. Translated into Latin in Toledo in the twelfth century by Dominicus Gundissalinus and John of Spain (*Logica et philosophia Algazelis Arabis*, printed in Venice in 1506) and into Hebrew in 1292, for centuries it was the manual through which Europe knew Avicenna.
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Authorship note
Authentic, but it does not express his own thought: it is an exposition, adapted from Avicenna (above all the Danishnama), of the philosophers' logic, metaphysics and physics, preparatory to the Tahafut. In Latin Europe and the Jewish world it was read as "Algazel's" own philosophy.
Editions and translations
Editions in your language first, without hiding the others. Each with its cover and its store.
Latín
Al-Ghazali
Logica et philosophia Algazelis Arabis
The Conscious LibraryLogica et philosophia Algazelis Arabis
Petrus Liechtenstein, Venecia, 1506
Translation: Domingo Gundisalvo y Juan Hispano (s. XII)
Primera edición impresa de la traducción latina medieval.
العربية
Al-Ghazali
Maqasid al-falasifa
The Conscious LibraryMaqasid al-falasifa
al-Matba'a al-Mahmudiyya, El Cairo, 1936
Translation: Muhyi al-Din Sabri al-Kurdi (ed.)
Edición citada por Ghazali.org. Sin ISBN.
Español
Al-Ghazali
Maqasid al-falasifa o Intenciones de los filósofos
The Conscious LibraryMaqasid al-falasifa o Intenciones de los filósofos
Juan Flors, Barcelona, 1963
Translation: Manuel Alonso Alonso
Traducción española completa. Sin ISBN.
Other works by Al-Ghazali
- The Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya ulum al-din) · 1097
- The Extensive (Shafi'i law) · 1088
- The Intermediate (Shafi'i law) · 1090
- The Concise (Shafi'i law) · 1101
- The Quintessence of the Epitome
- The Sifted Notes on the Foundations · 1085
- The Healing of the Thirsty (on legal reasoning) · 1093
- The Essentials of Legal Theory · 1109
- The Foundation of Analogy
- The Incoherence of the Philosophers · 1095
- The Standard of Knowledge (logic) · 1095
- The Touchstone of Reasoning (logic) · 1095
- The Criterion of Action · 1095
- The Correct Balance · 1100
- Moderation in Belief · 1095
- The Jerusalem Epistle · 1096
- The Decisive Criterion for Distinguishing Islam from Clandestine Unbelief · 1101
- The Rule of Interpretation · 1105
- Restraining the Common People from Theology · 1111
- The Infamies of the Batinis (al-Mustazhiri) · 1095
- The Excellent Refutation of the Divinity of Jesus from the Gospel
- The Book of the Forty (principles of religion) · 1100
- The Jewels of the Qur'an · 1100
- The Noblest Aim: on the Beautiful Names of God · 1100
- Dictation on the Difficult Passages of the Ihya · 1105
- The Beginning of Guidance · 1100
- The Precious Pearl (on the science of the hereafter) · 1100
- The Niche of Lights · 1106
- Deliverance from Error · 1108
- The Alchemy of Happiness · 1105
- Counsel for Kings · 1109
- The Virtues of Mankind: Letters of the Proof of Islam · 1111
- Refutation of the Antinomians · 1106
- O Disciple (Letter to a Disciple)
- The Path of the Worshippers
- What Is to Be Withheld from the Unworthy
- The Lesser Withheld Book (Answers on Eschatological Questions)
- The Epistle on Divinely Bestowed Knowledge
- The Ladders of Holiness in the Degrees of Self-Knowledge
- The Unveiling of Hearts
- The Secret of the Two Worlds
- The Wisdom in God's Creatures
- Book of Counsel
Sources
- Griffel, Frank. «al-Ghazali». Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, publicado el 14 de agosto de 2007; revisión sustancial del 15 de enero de 2026.
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