ISLA 345: Science & Civilization in Islam

TTh 11:35-12:55; Birks 203

Off. Hrs: TTh 2:00-4:00 & by appt: Morrice Hall 320 (jamil.ragep@mcgill.ca)

F. J. Ragep
Fall 2014

Reading Material
A. The following books are available in the bookstore [B]:
Peter E. Pormann and Emilie Savage-Smith, Medieval Islamic Medicine (required)
J. L. Berggren, Episodes in the Mathematics of Medieval Islam (required)
B. The following are on reserve in the Islamic Studies library [R]:
J. L. Berggren, Episodes in the Mathematics of Medieval Islam
Ahmad S. Dallal, Islam, Science, and the Challenge of History: The Terry Lectures
Frank Griffel, Al-Ghazls Philosophical Theology
Dimitri Gutas, Greek Thought, Arabic Culture: The Graeco-Arabic Translation Movement in Baghdad
and Early Abbsid Society (2nd-4th/8th-10th Centuries)
Dimitri Gutas, Avicenna and the Aristotelian Tradition: Introduction to Reading Avicennas
Philosophical Works (2nd edition, 2014)
Pervez Hoodbhoy, Islam and Science: Religious Orthodoxy and the Battle for Rationality
George F. Hourani, Averroes on the Harmony of Religion and Philosophy
Ibn Khaldn, The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History
B. F. Musallam, Sex and Society in Islam
Peter E. Pormann and Emilie Savage-Smith, Medieval Islamic Medicine
F. J. Ragep, Nar al-Dn al-ss Memoir on Astronomy (al-Tadhkira)
Franz Rosenthal, The Classical Heritage in Islam
A. I. Sabra, The Optics of Ibn Al-Haytham
Aydn Sayl, The Observatory in Islam
[A course packet of readings]
D. Readings from myCourses are indicated by [E]
Class Schedule
I. Sept. 2, 4: Introduction to Islamic Science and Civilization
Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, Islamic Culture and the Natural Sciences [Intro; The Historical
and Cultural Background], pp. 27-33
[B, R] Berggren, Episodes, pp. 1-28
[E] F. J. Ragep, When Did Islamic Science Die? (And Who Cares?)
http://islamsci.mcgill.ca/Viewpoint_ragep.pdf
II. Sept. 9: Rationality Homegrown: Religious Knowledge within Islam
Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, Islamic Culture and the Natural Sciences [The Theological (Kalm)
Approach to the Phenomenal World], pp. 53-57
[E] N. Heer, A Lecture on Islamic Theology
http://faculty.washington.edu/heer/theology-sep.pdf
III. Sept. 11, 16: The Meaning of Knowledge in Islamic Civilization (Classification of the Sciences)
Readings: [E] Sabra, The Appropriation and Subsequent Naturalization of Greek Science in Medieval
Islam, pp. 3-27 [original pagination: 223-243]
[E,R] Rosenthal, Classical Heritage in Islam, pp. 52-73; 74-82; 114-116
IV. Sept. 18, 23: Secular Knowledge in Islamic Civilization: Sources and Motivations
Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, Islamic Culture and the Natural Sciences [The Translation of Greek Natural
Philosophy into Arabic: Background&Motivations; Translators&Their Patrons], pp. 34-40
[E, R] Rosenthal, Classical Heritage, pp. 1-23
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V. Sept. 25, 30: Secular Knowledge in Islamic Civilization: Doctrines and Champions
Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, Islamic Culture and the Natural Sciences [The Natural Philosophy Tradition
in Islam; Defenders and Practitioners of Natural Philosophy; Transformations], pp. 40-53, 57-61
[E] Sabra, Some Remarks on Al-Kind... [7 pp.]
[E] J. McGinnis, Arabic and Islamic Natural Philosophy and Natural Science,
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/arabic-islamic-natural/
VI. Oct. 2, 7: Interactions of Science and Religion in Islam
Readings: [E] The Attack of al-Ghazzl upon Philosophers and Response of Averroes [4 pp]
[E] Averroes, Decisive Treatise, in George Hourani, Averroes on the Harmony of
Religion and Philosophy, pp. 50-62
[E] Ibn Khaldn, The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History, pp. 258-264
[E] F. Griffel, Al-Ghazali, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/al-ghazali/
VII. Oct. 9, 14: Institutions and Individuals
Readings: [E] I. Fazliolu, The Samarqand Mathematical-Astronomical School
http://islamsci.mcgill.ca/Fazlioglu.pdf
[E] F. Charette, The Locales of Islamic Astronomical Instrumentation, pp.123-138
[E] Avicenna, Autobiography (trans. D. Gutas)
[E] Prologue to al-Ghfiqs Herbal (trans. F.J. Ragep)
[E] A Newly Found Letter of al-Ksh (trans. M. Bagheri)
MIDTERM EXAM: Thursday, Oct. 16
VIII. Oct. 21, 23: March 1: Medicine and Biology
Readings: [B] P. Pormann and E. Savage-Smith, Medieval Islamic Medicine
[E] B. Musallam, Sex and Society in Islam, pp. 10-59 [159-183]
PAPER: Due Oct. 28 [on Sex and Society]
IX. Oct. 28, 30: Optics and Vision
Readings: [E] Sabra, Optics, Islamic, pp. 179-186
[E, R] Sabra, The Optics of Ibn al-Haytham, pp. 3-6, 63-70, 113, 126-138, 200-206
X. Nov. 4, 6, 11: Mathematics
Readings: [B, R] Berggren, Episodes, pp. 29-48, 63-67, 99-108, 124-125, 127-135
MATHEMATICS ASSIGNMENT Due November 13
XI. Nov. 13, 18, 20, 25: Astronomy
Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, Astronomy Encyclopedia of Islam, 3d ed.
http://www.brillonline.nl/subscriber/uid=1417/entry?entry=ei3_COM-22652
[E] Ibn al-Haythams Introduction to Doubts Concerning Ptolemy
[E, R] F. J. Ragep, Nar al-Dn al-ss Memoir, pp. 90-112, 158-160 (para. 25 only), 194-204
[B, R] Berggren, Episodes, pp. 141-143, 165-173, 176-186
ASTRONOMY ASSIGNMENT Due November 27
XII. Nov. 27, Dec. 2: Transmission, Mutual Influence, and Modern Repercussions
Readings: [E] F. J. Ragep, Copernicus and His Islamic Predecessors, pp.65- 81
[E, R] Dallal, Islam, Science, and the Challenge of History, ch. 4 (pp. 149-176)

ISLA 345: Science & Civilization in Islam

TTh 11:35-12:55; Birks 203

F. J. Ragep
Fall 2014

Course Information
1. Office Hrs: TTh 2:00-4:00 and by appointment. [Morrice Hall 320]
2. Generally, readings should be completed by the beginning of the week in which they are assigned.
3. Make-up of an examination, or late submission of papers, will be permitted without penalty only in cases of
serious illness or emergency (such as a death in the family); approval for such a make-up exam or late essay
submission must be obtained in advance in all but highly exceptional cases.
4. Late submissions of assignments or papers will be accepted but will be penalized a half letter-grade (or 5
points on a 100 scale) for every day it is late, up to a maximum of 50% penalty. Missed exams (other than
the final) that are unexcused may (and should) be made up; they will be given 50% credit.
5. McGill is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students
with disabilities who require accommodations in this course are requested to speak with the professor as
early in the semester as possible. It would be helpful if you contact the Office for Students with Disabilities
at 398-6009 (online at http://www.mcgill.ca/osd) before you do this.
6. In accord with McGill Universitys Charter of Students Rights, students in this course have the right to
submit in English or in French any written work that is to be graded. Conformment la Charte des droits
de ltudiant de lUniversit McGill, chaque tudiant a le droit de soumettre en franais ou en anglais tout
travail crit devant tre not.
7. Permission from the instructor is needed for taping of Lectures.
8. Instructor generated course materials (e.g., handouts, notes, summaries, exam questions, etc.) are protected
by law and may not be copied or distributed in any form or in any medium without explicit permission of
the instructor. Note that infringements of copyright can be subject to follow up by the University under the
Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.

9. Grading:
Midterm exam (Oct. 16)
Analytical paper (on Sex and Society) [ca. 6-8 pages] (due Oct. 28)
Two assignments on Math and Astronomy (due Nov. 13 and Nov. 27)
Research paper [ca. 10-15 pages] (final draft due Dec. 4)
Final Exam
The remaining 15% of the grade will be discretionary, being based
upon class attendance and participation in discussions.

15%
10%
15%
20%
25%
15%

10. McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and
consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and
Disciplinary Procedures (see www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/honest/ for more information).
11. In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the Universitys control, the content and/or evaluation
scheme in this course is subject to change.

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