Exposition of the Methods of Proof
This work examines theological arguments available to different audiences and criticizes methods that needlessly complicate religious teaching. Averroes evaluates proofs through philosophical and legal traditions.
Understanding the text
Written in 1179 in the context of the Decisive Treatise, it responds to debates among schools of Islamic theology.
Key points
- 01
Proof
An argument must be examined through its premises and intended audience.
- 02
Criticism
Some speculation obscures what it claims to defend.
- 03
Nature
Natural order provides a starting point for reflection on creation.
How to read it
Compare its discussion of proofs with the distinctions between audiences in the Decisive Treatise.
Editions & sources
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗