Between Philosophy and Mathematics: Examples of Interactions in Classical Islam

Abstract

In this paper the author raises the question of the existence and the extension of philosophy of mathematics in classical Islam. He considers three types of interactions between mathematics and theoretical philosophy. The first is that used by al-Kindi who uses the means and methods of mathematics to reconstruct his philosophical system. The second type emerges when the mathematician al-Tusi tries to solve a philosophical question: the emanation of the multiplicity. The third type is comes from the mathematician al-Sijzi, who philosophically solves a mathematical problem but does not yet have the means to do so mathematically.