Some Considerations on Averroes’ Views Regarding Women and Their Role in Society*
The American University in Cairo
E-mail: catarina_belo{at}yahoo.co.uk
 |
Abstract |
|---|
Traditional view on women have been the subject of much debate with some studies offering a comprehensive overview of the problem. The present study contributes to the discussion by focusing on a Muslim philosopher, Averroes (Ibn Rushd, d. 1198) known in medieval Europe as an Aristotelian commentator. Modern research shows him as a philosopher in his own right. The originality of his veiws on women would place him in that category. This study examines Averroes’ view on women against the background of his society and faith. It also contextualizes them within his philosophy background, not just Ancient, such a Plato and Aristotle, but also contemporary, in particular his forerunners Alfarabi and Avicenna.
To that end, this study focuses on two main works, the Commentary on Plato's Republic, where Averroes expounds Plato's model of the ideal society, and women's role in it, and his book on Islamic law, the Bid
yat al-mujtahid (A Jurist's Primer) In both cases Averroes, while following the tradition, philosophical or religious, displays an undeniable preference for women's emancipation.
Averroes’ considerations on women offer a remarkably original insight. He considers women essentially identical with men, possessing the same intellectual abilities. He advocates their active participation in society and performance of all tasks, including those that had been the prerogative of men. He urges socitey, in particular his Muslim contemporaries, to allow women a greater role in public affairs for the benefit of the entire state. His references to women break new ground, and prefigure important debates that would flourish in modern Europe. Averrores does not see a contradiction between this and Islamic religion.
*An earlier version of this paper was presented at a conference on ‘Islam and Society: Perspectives and Prospects’, September 3–4, 2004, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, organized by Roxanne Marcotte and Renée Worringer. I wish to thank also the two anonymous reviewers of the paper; their advice contributed greatly to its improvement.