Philosophy and Science
Persian Astrolabium
Iranians have always been interested in philosophic matters. In the pre-Islamic period, philosophy was closely linked to theology, as indeed it also was in the early Islamic period. Gradually, however, phi!osophy developed into a separate science, and most of the great Muslim philosophers were Iranians, although since they wrote mainly in Arabic, the universal language of Islam, they are often known in the West as Arab philosophers.
The most famous of these scholars was lbn Sina (Avicenna), one of the greatest geniuses of all times, who had an encyclopaedic knowledge of all the sciences of his day. His philosophic and medical works were for centuries used as textbooks in medieval Europe.
Among other Iranian polymaths, whose contributions to science influenced the development of Western as well as Islamic thought, mention may be made of Biruni, Nasser-od-Din Tusi, Ghazzali, Razi and Jaber. Iranians ploneered many techniques still used in medicine and surgery today, and in astronomy and mathematics made important discoveries.
Iran adopted the Indian decimal system and numerals, transmitting them to the West as the "Arabic" numerals used today. Omar Khayyam wrote the most important medieval treatise on algebra, and systematized a very accurate calendar, which is the basis of the official Iranian calendar today.
Alchemy, the forerunner of chemistry, was widely studied, and Iranian alchemists discovered many important substances, including alcohol, and developed some of the apparatus used by modern chemists.
The philosophic tradition was kept alive by Sadr-od-Din Shirazi, who in Safavid times synthesized the various threads of Islamic philosophy into a comprehensive new system, and Sabzevan, a nineteenth-century philosopher who continued and revived the tradition.
Although scientific activity declined after the fifteenth century, the present century has seen a revival. Iranian scientists, at home and abroad, they are again making valuable contributions to mankind's store of knowledge.
Related Topics: