‫كلية اللغة العربية‬

‫مخترب البحث يف مناهج اللغة العربية واللغات‬

Ethics and Politics

in Ibn Rushd Thought

On 26 and 28 April 2019 in Marrakech

In honor of Dr. Ahmed Chahlan

by:
Rawafed Center for Studies and Research in the Maghreb Civilization
and the Mediterranean Heritage
In partnership with
Research Methods Laboratory in Arabic and Other Languages
And the Moroccan Association for Research in Oriental Studies
 There is a strong relationship between ethics and politics
in the ancient philosophical system.
For example, the practical wisdom of Aristotle consists of
two major books: “The Nicomachean Ethics” and “The Book of
Politics”. His ethical philosophy is closely related to his political
vision. His “Book of Politics” discusses the idea that every society
is in need of an ethical basis; whereas, the “Nicomachean Ethics”
mainly deals with the fixation of an ethical attitude in the souls
of young people. Aristotle arranged in a more systematic and
scientific manner what Plato had expressed in an allusive and
symbolic way.
Ibn Rushd was a philosophical heir to this philosophical
tradition which started in the Islamic world with al-Farabi and
insisted on the harmony that exists between Plato>s thought
and Aristotle’s.With regard to practical thought it presented
a combination of the Platonic political-oriented and the
Aristotelian ethical- oriented works. In fact, al-Farabi paisd
special attention to Plato>s book in politics and to Aristotle’s
book in ethics.
However, Ibn Rushd is as well considered a descendant
of an Islamic ethical heritage that has been manifested in
Islamic jurisprudence and in Sufism, in addition to the proper
philosophical heritage. Therefore, we believe that the search
for the Rushdian ethical vision should not be separated from
his system of practice and knowledge, which is framed by both
philosophical and religious ideas.
Ibn Rushd spoke of jurisprudence as a practical virtue, and
specified the rightness of insight as a necessary condition for
declining lower pleasures.He summarized the book of Aristotle
on ethics, in which the virtues had been listed, and shed a new
light upon it.In doing this he had avery great impact on the
ethical philosophical vision prevailing in later Islam. He also
tread the political book of Plato in a special way and thereby
became a substantial part of the political and educational
heritage of the Islamic society.In sum,even today we still can
find many inspiring ideasinIbn Rushd’s ethical-political vision.
We believe that the the Rushdian ethical doctrines till offers for
us a solid scientific and practical structure.
The unique way in which Abu al-Waleed Ibn Rushdarticulated
the need for reform of and righteousness in politics and ethics
caused an intellectual shock in the Muslim West.The people of
the state of the Almohad Caliphate experienced his efforts to
reform education in our civilization. Hence, it is undoubtedly
worthwhile to keep the memory of this man living among us.He
remains an example of moral beauty and cognitive power.One
cannot but seehis intentions towards improving the well-being
of the nation as sincere and inspiring. Therefore, it is convenient
to celebrate his memory in Marrakech, in order to raise the
structure of what he wanted to express in his encompassing
encyclopedic work that exceeded the borders of race, geography
and time.
From this point of view, the “Rawafed Center for Studies
and Researches in Maghreb Civilization and Mediterranean
Heritage”, “Research Laboratory in the Arabic curricula and
languages - Faculty of Arabic Language, Cadi Ayyad University
”, and “Moroccan Association For Research in Oriental Studies”,
urges to focus on the political - ethical question of Ibn Rushd,
and to process it through the proposed axes of research:
- What is the precise nature of ethicsaccording to Ibn
Rushd?
- What is the precise nature of politics accordig to Ibn
Rushd?
- What is the precise nature of the relationschip between
ethics and politics in Ibn Rushd?
- Are and, if so, in which way are political concepts and
ethical concepts interrelated in Ibn Rushd’s works?
- What are the ethical vision(s) and concerns of the (past
and/or present) Islamic society?
- How is jurisprudence related toethics and politics in Ibn
Rushd?
- What is the status of Ibn Rushd>s political and ethical
heritage in our reality today? Can it be valid for the requirements
of our situation?
In order to further improve our knowledge of Ibn Rushd’s
ethical and politcal thought, we invite researchers to participate
in this scientific symposium.We invite them to present the results
oftheir research on this topic, preferably in accordancewith the
above proposed axes.
In view of the scientific efforts done by Professor Ahmed
Shehlan in publishing two main works on the subject related to
the topic of this symposium, i.e.,” The Epitome of Plato’s Politics»
and “Middle Commentary on the Book of Ethics by Ibn Rushd,
«the Rawafed Center for Studies and Researches in Maghreb
Civilization and Mediterranean Heritage» , «Research Laboratory
in the Arabic curricula and languages - Faculty of Arabic
Language, Cadi Ayyad University, and Moroccan Association
For Research in Oriental Studies, decided to dedicate this
symposium to him, in ordre to honour him; especially for his
tremendous efforts to making the practical work of Ibn Rushd
more accessible to scholars.
Regulatory arrangements:
Deadline for submitting the titles of interventions: 20
November 2018.
Deadline for submitting the summaries: 10 December 2018.
Deadline for submitting the final presentations: 1 April
2019.
The conference management will be responsible for
accommodation, food and public transportation for participants
from 25 to 27 April 2019. The day of departure will be on 28 April.
The works of the symposium shall be printed one month
after the end of the event.

Contact:
Prof . Aziz Abouchraa
ethicsandpoliticsaverroes2019@gmail.com