Ibn Tufail

Andalusian philosopher whose novel 'Hayy ibn Yaqdhan' laid groundwork for Enlightenment empiricism and rationalism.

Ibn Tufail (c. 1105–1185), a Moorish polymath from Al-Andalus, authored Hayy ibn Yaqdhan (Alive, Son of Awake), one of history's first philosophical novels. The story follows a self-taught man on a desert island who discovers truth through observation and reason, challenging dogma and advocating empirical inquiry. This narrative influenced European Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Daniel Defoe, shaping secular humanism.

As a court physician and advisor to the Almohad Caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf, Ibn Tufail bridged Islamic scholarship with Greek philosophy. He mentored Averroes (Ibn Rushd), whose commentaries on Aristotle revitalized medieval European thought. Ibn Tufail's integration of Sufi mysticism with Neoplatonic ideas also enriched Islamic theology, promoting harmony between faith and reason.

His work critiqued rigid scholasticism, urging intellectual autonomy—a radical stance in 12th-century Andalusia. Hayy ibn Yaqdhan was translated into Latin (Philosophus Autodidactus) in 1671, inspiring debates on natural law and the social contract. Voltaire and Rousseau later echoed its themes, underscoring its cross-cultural impact.

Ibn Tufail's legacy endures in epistemology and literature, championing the power of unaided human reason—a cornerstone of modern scientific and philosophical discourse.