Synopsis: : Ibn Bajjah's Ilm Al-Nafs 3rd Edition |
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The subject of this volume of Ibn Bajjah's Kitab al-Nafs is ready with an English translation and historic-philosophical notes. There are only two manuscripts of Ibn Bajjah's works known, preserved in the Libraries of Oxford and Berlin.
Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Yahya Ibn al-Saigh known as Ibn Bajjah (d. 533/1138), the fore-runner of Averroes, "The Commentator" par excellence", has been unanimously regarded as one of the chief representatives of Arabic philosophy.
Introduction :
i. The Subject
ii. The Manuscript
A. TRANSLATION :
Chap. I : On the Soul
Chap. II : Discourse on the Nutritive Faculty
Chap. III : Discourse on the Faculties of Sense Perception
Chap. IV : Discourse on Sight
Chap. V : Discourse on Hearing
Chap. VI : Discourse on Smell
Chap. VII : Discourse on Taste
Chap. VIII : Discourse on Touch
Chap. IX : On Common Sense
Chap. X : Discourse on the Faculty of Imagination
Chap. XI : Discourse on the Reasoning Faculty
B. NOTES :
Introduction :
Chap. I : On the Soul
Chap. II : Discourse on the Nutritive Faculty
Chap. III : Discourse on the Faculties of Sense Perception
Chap. IV : Discourse on Sight
Chap. V : Discourse on Hearing
Chap. VI : Discourse on Smell
Chap. VII : Discourse on Taste
Chap. VIII : Discourse on Touch
Chap. IX : On Common Sense
Chap. X : Discourse on the Faculty of Imagination
Chap. XI : Discourse on the Reasoning Faculty
Ibn Bajjah's Kitab al-Nafs is now ready for the English readers. The Arabic text with the Arabic version of the Introduction and Notes prepared by the writer himself .was sent to the "Revue de l' academic Arabe de Damas", Syria, long after the English translation together with' the Arabic Text was submitted for publication to the Pakistan Historical Society of Karachi. The Arabic version, however, came out in the Arab World before the original work could see the light of the day.
In the year 1950, when the writer was in Oxford to do some research work in the field of Arabic Philosophy under the kind supervision of Dr. R. Walzer, the latter very kindly mentioned the Bodleian manuscript of Ibn Bajjah to the writer and advised him to select a portion thereof with a view to collate the same with the corresponding portion of the only other available manuscript in Berlin. After the treatise in hand was selected by the writer and approved by the authorities concerned, it was discovered that the Berlin manuscript would not be available, as it was lost in the last Great World War.
It was only through the valuable criticism of Prof. S. Van Den Berg, the encouragement and kind care of Sir H.A.R. Gibb and the very effective supervision of Dr. R. Walzer that the writer succeeded in completing the edition which was submitted to the University of Oxford under the title "IBN BAJJAH'S PARAPHRASE OF ARISTOTLE'S DE ANIMA" for the Degree of D.Phil, in 1952-53.
On the recommendation of Professor Paul Kahle, who visited Pakistan in 1956, the Pakistan Historical Society approved this small book to be included in its series of publications.
The writer feels deeply indebted to the above-mentioned distinguished orientalist and to the office-bearers and members of the Pakistan Historical Society through whose kind encouragement, supervision and assistance this work is now in the hands of the readers.
The writer also records his deep indebtedness to Dr. Serajul Huq, Head of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies; to Professor S.M. Hossain, former Head of the Department, and ex-Vice-Chancellor, University of Dacca; and to the University of Dacca, for their help, encouragement and grant of Study Advance.
In the end, the writer also offers sincere thanks and gratitude to Dr. Beeston (now the Laudean Professor of Arabic in Oxford), and other Assistants in the Oriental Section, Bodleian Library, Oxford; to Dr. S. Moinul Haq, General Secretary and Director of Research, Pakistan Historical Society, Karachi; to the proof reader, printer, and assistants of the Society; for their very kind assistance in preparing the work, and bringing it out of the press.