Al-Kindi

Al-Kindi (also known as Alkindus) was an Arab philosopher, polymath, mathematician, physician and musician. He was born in Kufa, now in modern day Iraq, in 801 and died in 873. Al-Kindi was the first of the Islamic peripatetic philosophers, and is known for his efforts to introduce Greek and Hellenistic philosophy to the Arab world, and as a pioneer in chemistry, cryptography, medicine, music theory, physics, psychology, and the philosophy of science.

Life

Al-Kindi was born in Kufa to an aristocratic family. He studied in Baghdad, where he came under the influence of Greek philosophy, and was appointed by the Abbasid Caliphs to translate Greek scientific works into Arabic. He was a prolific writer, with over 260 works attributed to him, although only a fraction of these have survived.

Philosophy

Al-Kindi's philosophical views were influenced by Greek philosophy, particularly Plato and Aristotle. He believed in the existence of a single truth, and that the pursuit of truth was the highest aim of philosophy. He also believed in the immortality of the soul and in the existence of God as the first cause of all things.

Contributions to Science

Al-Kindi made significant contributions to a number of scientific fields. In medicine, he wrote several works on the subject, including a treatise on the use of drugs in the treatment of illness. In physics, he wrote on the nature of light and color, and in psychology, he wrote on the nature of the soul and the mind.

Legacy

Al-Kindi's work had a significant influence on both the Islamic world and the West. His translations of Greek works into Arabic played a key role in the transmission of Greek philosophy to the Islamic world, and his own philosophical and scientific works were later translated into Latin and influenced Western thought.

See also

• Islamic Golden Age
• Islamic philosophy
• List of Muslim scientists

References

Al-Kindi Resources
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