The tradition of philosophy in the Persian-speaking world is extraordinarily rich, creative and diverse. This anthology, which is divided into three volumes, aims to communicate something of that richness and diversity. The term ""philosophy"" is understood to in its widest sense to include theological debate, philosophical Sufism and philosophical hermeneutics (ta'wil). Extending over a period of more than two millennia, and showcasing translations by well-established scholars, the anthology offers full bibliographical references throughout. For anyone interested in exploring, in all their...

The tradition of philosophy in the Persian-speaking world is extraordinarily rich, creative and diverse. This anthology, which is divided into three volumes, aims to communicate something of that richness and diversity. The term ""philosophy"" is understood to in its widest sense to include theological debate, philosophical Sufism and philosophical hermeneutics (ta'wil). Extending over a period of more than two millennia, and showcasing translations by well-established scholars, the anthology offers full bibliographical references throughout. For anyone interested in exploring, in all their...

Representative of the exotic and erotic east, enemy of Christianity, prophet of hedonism, champion of free thinkers, Omar Khayyam and his Ruba iyyat have been the stuff of legend for centuries. Nourished by an admiration of Khayyam that has been with him since childhood, Aminrazavi s comprehensive new biography reintroduces the figure of Khayyam, and his great achievements, to the Western world. Blending a readable and accessible narrative with scholarly ambition and years of research, Aminrazavi s work covers not only Khayyam s well-known poetry, but also his extraordinary life, his...

Persian civilisation has had a continuous tradition of philosophical thought lasting more than two and a half millennia. The fifth and final volume of An Anthology of Philosophy in Persia examines the seven centuries between the Mongol invasion and the end of the Qajar period. The volume is divided into three parts: 'The School of Shiraz, ' whose importance for Ottoman Turkey and Muslim India is only now being recognized; 'The School of Isfahan, ' which marks the integration of some eight centuries of Islamic thought; and finally 'The School of Tehran, ' where traditional philosophy...

This book reveals the rich, but generally unknown, influence of Sufism on nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American literature. The translation of Persian poets such as Hafiz and Sa'di into English and the ongoing popularity of Omar Khayyam offered intriguing new spiritual perspectives to some of the major American literary figures. As editor Mehdi Aminrazavi notes, these Sufi influences have often been subsumed into a notion of "Eastern," chiefly Indian, thought and not acknowledged as having Islamic roots. This work pays considerable attention to two giants of American literature,...