Journal of Philosophy and Theology

Philosophical Education during the Almohad Rule/Ibn Rushd
Ilham Ibnou Zahir (PhD)

Abstract
During the twelfth century the Almohads established themselves as a powerful and immensely fearedBerber-Muslim Caliphate. They started by procuringreligious and political mastery of the Berbers in the Atlas Mountains, south of Morocco only toextend their power toinclude neighbouring Mediterranean countries in North Africa adding to their strength south of Spain, Andalusia. Though the Almohads were greatly apprehended due to their radical determination to brutally eliminate their enemies, Muslims as well as Christians, their founder, Ibn Tumart, surprisingly strongly advised reliance on rational thinking to understand Islam. However, while Ibn Tumart"s call for reason can be questionable, later successors were better disposed towards reflective thinkingand even paved the way forthe integration of philosophy as an openly accepted and admired Greek discipline. This work will exploresome of the ideas of Ibn Rushd,a distinguished philosopher, close friends to the second and third caliphs,whohas played a pivotal role in reinforcing the practiceof philosophy as a necessary discipline contributing to a firmerand more critical theological landscape.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijpt.v9n2a3