Publisher's Synopsis
The 10th century was an age of enormous intellectual vitality in the lands of Islam, stimulated by the assimilation of Greek thought. Notable among the scholars and writers of the period were Syrian Christians: bi- or trilingual, their contributions in medicine and philosophy, especially, were seminal. Elias, bishop of Nisibis (975û1046), to whose life and work these articles are devoted, was educated in this tradition of Greek science and scholarship, as well as in Christian and Muslim theology, and came to be recognised as outstanding for the depth of his learning; a particular impression was made by his debates with the vizier Abu l-Qasim Ibn æAli al-Maghribi in 1027. In the studies gathered here, Professor Samir has made a major contribution to our understanding of this important period of medieval intellectual history. - - Au Xe siÞcle, les terres d'Islam passÞrent par une pÚriode de grande vitalitÚ intellectuelle, stimulÚe par l'assimilation de la pensÚe grecque. Parmi les Úrudits et les Úcrivajns de l'Úpoque, se trouvaient des chrÚtiens syriens qui Útaient tout Ó fait remarquables: bi-ou trilingues, leurs contributions Ó la mÚdicine et Ó la philosophie, Útaient particuliÞrement riches et originales. Elie, ÚvÛque d Nisibis (975û1046), Ó la vie et l'oeuvre duquel ces articles sont consacrÚs, qui fut ÚduquÚ dans cette tradition de science greque, d'Úrudition et de thÚologie musulmane et chrÚtienne, finit par Ûtre reconnu en tant que en tant que phÚnomÞne de par la profondeur de son savoir; ses dÚbats avec le vizir Abu l-Qasim Ibn 'Ali al-Maghribi en 1027 firent forte impression. Au travers des Útudes regroupÚes dans ce volume, le professeur Samir contribue de faþon majeure Ó notre comprÚhension de cette importante pÚriode de l'histoire intellectuelle mÚdiÚvale.
