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The Ten Spheres of Al-Farabi: A Medieval Cosmology

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  • Amelia Carolina Sparavigna

Abstract

Abu Nasr Al-Farabi, who lived in the ninth century, left a valuable heritage for Islamic thinkers after him. In the framework of his metaphysics, he developed a theory of emanation describing the origin of the material universe. Ten intellects or intelligences are coming in succession from the First Being, and, from each of them, a sphere of the universe is produced. The first intellect created the outermost sphere and a second intellect. From this second intelligence, the sphere of the fixed stars and a third intellect had been generated. The process continues, through the spheres of the planets, downwards to the sphere of the Moon. From the Moon, a pure intelligence, defined as the “active intelligence†, provides a bridge between heavens and earth. In the paper, we discuss this cosmology, comparing it to the cosmology of Robert Grosseteste, an Oxonian thinker of the thirteen century.

Suggested Citation

  • Amelia Carolina Sparavigna, 2014. "The Ten Spheres of Al-Farabi: A Medieval Cosmology," International Journal of Sciences, Office ijSciences, vol. 3(06), pages 34-39, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:adm:journl:v:3:y:2014:i:6:p:34-39
    DOI: 10.18483/ijSci.517
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Amelia Carolina Sparavigna, 2013. "The Science of Al-Biruni," International Journal of Sciences, Office ijSciences, vol. 2(12), pages 52-60, December.
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