‘Ibn Rushd…Philosophers’ Criticism of Nature’

‘Ibn Rushd…Philosophers’ Criticism of Nature’
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‘Ibn Rushd…Philosophers’ Criticism of Nature’

‘Ibn Rushd…Philosophers’ Criticism of Nature’

Dar Al Hiwar for publishing recently released a new addition to its Philosophy collection, a new book by Sami Ibrahim Jabboury entitled "Ibn Rushd…Philosophers’ Criticism of Nature".

The publisher writes in the foreward: “Of many characteristics Ibn Rushd had, we cite the rationality of his thought; belief in the greatness of knowledge; the scientific, critical, and judgmental spirit; openness to the truth wherever it exists; in addition to his emphasis on civicism which doesn’t differentiate people based on religion or sect, but on their qualification and intellectual potential; and finally, his constant call for an open, free, and bold intellect."

"This book focuses on physics matters that sparked important disagreements between Ibn Rushd and other philosophers, like Alexander and Ibn Sina, over the natural science principles, and with Al-Farabi and Ibn Sina over the infinity matter.

The book shed lights on Inb Rushd’s knowledge of natural and meteorological phenomena through his study of earth and sky. His disagreements continue with Ibn Bājja and Galenus in the matters of ego, senses, and touch.

The book also explores the sky and earth, the main interest of Ibn Rushd, among others featured in the "Overhead Effects", the main chapter of the book. It highlights his knowledge of natural phenomena and their comparison to meteorological phenomena.

Ibn Rushd differentiates the verbal power from other powers, including the illusional power, over which he disputed with Ibn Sina. He also believed that Ibn Sina made mistakes regarding issues related to the senses.



‘Anything Goes’: Yoshitomo Nara on His Creative Process as London Exhibition Opens

Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara speaks during an interview at the largest European retrospective of his work at the Hayward Gallery in London, Britain, June 9, 2025. (Reuters)
Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara speaks during an interview at the largest European retrospective of his work at the Hayward Gallery in London, Britain, June 9, 2025. (Reuters)
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‘Anything Goes’: Yoshitomo Nara on His Creative Process as London Exhibition Opens

Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara speaks during an interview at the largest European retrospective of his work at the Hayward Gallery in London, Britain, June 9, 2025. (Reuters)
Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara speaks during an interview at the largest European retrospective of his work at the Hayward Gallery in London, Britain, June 9, 2025. (Reuters)

Artworks by Yoshitomo Nara go on display in London this week in what organizers say is the largest European retrospective of the Japanese artist.

The show, running at the Hayward Gallery by the River Thames, features more than 150 works - drawings, paintings, sculptures, ceramics and installations - nodding to the longtime influences of Nara's works including music, nature, the importance of home and the peace movement.

"This is about 40 years' worth of my work," Nara told Reuters at a press preview on Monday.

"When I look at my work, I don't think what I'm trying to say has actually changed in that time. Whatever period I look at reflects a part of myself, which is why this exhibition is not done chronologically."

Nara, 65, is best known for his portraits of child-like characters with big gazing eyes.

"I think all the pictures I've created are like my reflections," he said when asked about them.

On display are plenty of those kinds of paintings and drawings as well as sculptures.

"Anything goes," says Nara, who was born in Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan and lived in Germany early in his career before moving back home, said of his creative process.

"I don't think about what I'm doing, but when I've done something good, I can feel the reason behind it almost like a kind of hindsight."

The show is an expanded version of a touring exhibition previously put on at the Guggenheim in Bilbao and Museum Frieder Burda in Baden-Baden.

"What’s quite interesting, I think, for audiences in London and in Europe overall (is)... we don't actually get to see Nara’s work in person that often," exhibition curator Yung Ma said.

"We’ve all seen his paintings and drawings on our devices...but I think all these kind of images, they don't do the works justice. So it's actually quite important to come and see because you can actually then understand (that)... he’s a really good painter...but you can actually really see the texture of the works and the colors and the layering of the paint."

The exhibition runs from June 10 to August 31.