The Islamic Scholar Who Gave Us Modern Philosophy ~ Humanities Magazine
In responding to Ghazālī's attack on philosophy, Averroës first insists that there can be no conflict between philosophy and faith: "Truth does not contradict truth." Although this is so in principle, Averroës goes on to make an interesting and subtle concession--he accepts that not everyone is suited to pursue religious questions in the way that philosophy demands. Following Ghazālī, he distinguishes between "the people of demonstration" and "the people of rhetoric"--that is, between the few who are able to pursue philosophical reasoning, and the vast majority, who can only follow simple and superficial teachings. The masses, the people of rhetoric, ought simply to accept at face value the words of the Qur'an and the Prophet--such material was, indeed, meant for them. But this does not mean that everyone should follow such crude methods
In responding to Ghazālī's attack on philosophy, Averroës first insists that there can be no conflict between philosophy and faith: "Truth does not contradict truth." Although this is so in principle, Averroës goes on to make an interesting and subtle concession--he accepts that not everyone is suited to pursue religious questions in the way that philosophy demands. Following Ghazālī, he distinguishes between "the people of demonstration" and "the people of rhetoric"--that is, between the few who are able to pursue philosophical reasoning, and the vast majority, who can only follow simple and superficial teachings. The masses, the people of rhetoric, ought simply to accept at face value the words of the Qur'an and the Prophet--such material was, indeed, meant for them. But this does not mean that everyone should follow such crude methods
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