Ibn Gabirol (Avicebron)

One of the most important thinkers of the Middle Ages, the Jewish philosopher Solomon Ibn Gabirol (known in the Latin Middle Ages as ‘Avicebron’) greatly contributed to the history of metaphysics. His most famous work, the Fons vitae, was the source of sophisticated, radical doctrines (like universal hylomorphism and the plurality of substantial forms) that were rigorously debated in the Latin world for centuries.

Breaking a long period of scholarly neglect of his thought, this volume scrutinises Ibn Gabirol’s philosophical contributions by disentangling his original theories from the misconceptions originated by his medieval readers and critics, like Thomas Aquinas and Albert the Great. The first part of the volume expands on the Latin translation of Ibn Gabirol’s philosophical work, the Fons vitae, from which many of these misconceptions seems to have originated. The second part focuses on the sources used by Ibn Gabirol and reconstructs the philosophical framework of his reflections. The final two parts of the volume are dedicated to the influence on Ibn Gabirol’s thought on the Latin and Hebrew traditions, respectively.

Authored by some of the most renowned worldwide experts on Hebrew and Latin philosophy, the cutting-edge contributions included in the volume give a lively picture of a complex yet fascinating medieval philosopher and his unique interpretation of the universe.

Introduction

Part I: Translations and Versions of the Fons vitae

1. Federico Dal Bo, The Sephardic Task of the Translator: Ibn Falaquera’s Paraphrastic Hebrew Translation of Ibn Gabirol’s Fons vitae

2. Nicola Polloni, Misinterpreting Ibn Gabirol? Questions, Doubts, and Remarks on a Problematic Latin Translation

3. Mária Mičaninová, Some Insights into the Manuscript Tradition of Fons vitae

Part II: Sources and Parallels

4. Alisa Kunitz-Dick, The Role of Place in the Metaphysics of the Fons vitae

5. Sarah Pessin, Chains, Trees, and the Spirit-to-Body Boundary: Substance, Spiritual Matter and the Principle of Matter as Higher Cause

6. Mauro Zonta, A Note on Galen’s Philosophical Writings as a Source for Ibn Gabirol

Part III: The Latin Tradition

7. María Jesús Soto-Bruna, Rational Discourse Surrounding Creation: Ibn Gabirol and Dominicus Gundissalinus

8. John A. Laumakis, Solomon Ibn Gabirol and William of Auvergne

9. Evelina Miteva, The Reception of Ibn Gabirol’s Fons vitae in Albertus Magnus

10. Fabrizio Amerini, Thomas Aquinas and Avicebron

11. Marienza Benedetto, Avicebron According to Giles of Rome: A ‘Mortal’ Author

12. Caleb G. Colley, John Pecham, Interpreter of Ibn Gabirol

13. Ze’ev Strauss, ‘Lord, show us the One, and it is enough for us’: Meister Eckhart’s Reception of Ibn Gabirol’s Metaphysics of the One

Part IV: The Hebrew Tradition

14. Cecilia Cavaleiro de Macedo, Ibn Gabirol: A Metaphysics of the Flux?

15. Warren Z. Harvey, Philosophy and Poetry in Ibn Gabirol

16. Federico Dal Bo, Ibn Gabirol between Philosophy and Kabbalah: A Comprehensive Insight into the Jewish Reception of Ibn Gabirol

17. Roberto Gatti, Models of Emanation in Medieval Jewish Philosophy: Ibn Gabirol, Maimonides, and Gersonides

Index