Biography
Overview
Ibn Rushd (1126-1198), known as Averroes, was an Andalusian polymath whose defense of reason shaped both Islamic and Western thought. Born into a family of jurists in Córdoba, he served as a physician and chief judge while producing a monumental body of philosophical work. His achievememt was his series of comprehensive commentaries on Aristotle, earning him the title 'The Commentator' in Latin Europe.
In his *Decisive Treatise*, he argued that genuine philosophy and religious revelation are compatible, as 'truth does not contradict truth.' Where they appear to conflict, he advocated for layered interpretation. His *Incoherence of the Incoherence* defended philosophy against theological attacks, cementing his legacy as a champion of rational inquiry. Even in exile, he maintained that reason, rightly used, is the servant of faith.
Averroes’s world, year by year
11261198
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Dated facts
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- 1126Ibn Rushd (Averroes) was born on 14 April 1126 in Córdoba; his grandfather had been chief judge (qadi) of Córdoba.
- 1153By 1153 he was in Marrakesh, capital of the Almohad Caliphate, making astronomical observations.
- 1162His other works include the legal work Bidayat al-Mujtahid and the medical book Al-Kulliyat fi al-Tibb, written around 1162.
- 1169In 1169 Ibn Tufayl introduced him to Caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf, who encouraged him to explain Aristotle, beginning his extensive commentaries.
- 1169He became qadi of Seville in 1169 and of Córdoba in 1171, and in 1182 court physician and chief qadi of Córdoba.
- 1178He wrote The Decisive Treatise (1178) and The Incoherence of the Incoherence (1180), a rebuttal of al-Ghazali.
- 1195In 1195 a tribunal in Córdoba condemned his teachings, ordered his works burned and banished him to nearby Lucena.
- 1198Restored to the caliph's favour at the court in Marrakesh, he died shortly afterwards, on 11 December 1198.
Alive at the same time
Overlap Same years; not influence
Wars during this life
- Wars of the Lombard League
- The Anarchy
- Genpei War
- Chichimec Invasions and Fall of Tula
- Kara-Khitan (Western Liao) Conquests
- Khwarezmian Empire Expansion
Sources
Primary works and follow-on reading.
Primary Sources
- Decisive Treatise (Faṣl al-Maqāl)
- Incoherence of the Incoherence (Tahāfut al-Tahāfut)
- Long, Middle, and Short Commentaries on Aristotle
- Reference profile for Ibn Rushd
Further Reading
- Averroes (Great Medieval Thinkers) - Charles E. Butterworth
- Averroes and the Metaphysics of Causation - Barry S. Kogan
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Ibn Rushd.
Who was Ibn Rushd?
Ibn Rushd (1126-1198), known as Averroes, was an Andalusian polymath whose defense of reason shaped both Islamic and Western thought. Born into a family of jurists in Córdoba, he served as a physician and chief judge while producing a monumental body of philosophical work. His achievememt was his series of comprehensive commentaries on Aristotle, earning him the title 'The Commentator' in Latin Europe. In his *Decisive Treatise*, he argued that genuine philosophy and religious revelation are compatible, as 'truth does not contradict truth.' Where they appear to conflict, he advocated for layered interpretation. His *Incoherence of the Incoherence* defended philosophy against theological attacks, cementing his legacy as a champion of rational inquiry. Even in exile, he maintained that reason, rightly used, is the servant of faith.
What was Ibn Rushd best known for?
Averroes is best known as a philosopher. Andalusian philosopher-jurist and physician; Aristotle’s great commentator and defender of philosophy within Islamic law and theology.
When did Ibn Rushd live?
Averroes lived 1126-1198 CE, born in 1126 and died in 1198, during the medieval period.
Can I chat with an AI version of Ibn Rushd?
Yes, free. Anyone can ask Averroes, and a first question needs no account. Every answer is a Simulation in character, grounded in Averroes’s real life, work and era. A good first question is: "How do I interpret a text that seems to oppose reason?"
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- Reason & Revelation: Harmonizing faith with demonstration
- Text & Commentary: Reading Aristotle and law with rigor
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“Ibn Rushd.” HistorIQly. https://historiqly.com/ai-historical-figures/ibn-rushd/
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