The Idea
Arkoun presents Averroes as a figure worthy of appreciation not because he is a model to be copied as is, but because he combined intellectual boldness with a drive toward knowledge. The meaning here is not limited to admiration for an old philosopher; it extends to respect for his attitude toward questioning, inquiry, and resistance to closure. Thus Averroes appears here as an example of living thought, not of intellectual sanctity.
Concise Formulation
Arkoun: values Averroes: in his struggle and his epistemic curiosity
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim lies at the heart of the book’s argument when it distinguishes between drawing on tradition and turning it into a closed authority. The reference to Averroes serves the idea that the Islamic tradition includes figures who make criticism and renewed interpretation possible, but this does not mean that everything said by earlier thinkers is suitable for direct quotation. Here, appreciation becomes a gateway to critical reading rather than historical veneration.
Why It Matters
The importance of this claim lies in the way it reveals Arkoun’s handling of major figures: respect without surrender, appreciation without suspending inquiry. Through Averroes in particular, it becomes clear that Arkoun looks in Islamic history for intellectual possibilities that help renew thought, not for symbols that close the door to debate.
Reading Questions
- How does the text distinguish between appreciating Averroes and adopting all of his views?
- What makes Averroes here an example of critical thought rather than imitation?
Degree of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear place in the book’s material.