Religious Assent and Philosophy in Averroes’ Fasl al-maqal

Abstract

An original work of Averroes, the Fasl al-maqal is remarkable for its controversial character. Composed as a juridical statement, one of its main goals is to analyze the role of philosophy in the Islamic Law by investigating which attitude must be adopted by those aware of the works of the Greek antiquity. Facing a problematic scenario, in which the legitimacy of philosophy is challenged, the diagnosis and solution proposed by  verroes emphasizes a unique interpretation of the Law guided by Philosophy, devised as a required element to achieve community welfare. This article intends to analyze that interpretation, in which three points concerning the relationship between philosophy and revelation arise: (1) the assurance of the individual possibility of religious assent; (2) the
maintenance of common welfare, associated to (3) the possibility of asserting the legitimacy of an interpreter who is able to assure the correct assent to common believers.