The Arabic Roots of European Biology

Project Information

AREB

Grant agreement ID: 101109485

DOI

10.3030/101109485

EC signature date 21 April 2023

Start date 1 November 2023

End date 31 October 2026

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 282 046,08

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PAVIA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AREB (The Arabic Roots of European Biology)

Reporting period: 2023-11-01 to 2025-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

AREB investigates how Avicenna (Ibn Sīnā, d. 1037) articulated a new paradigm for biological inquiry centred on the organic body—a multifaceted concept encompassing the full range of biological diversity. This paradigm integrates all living forms and stages, including not only the supposedly standard male body but also the female body, and not only the mature organism but also the embryo. Avicenna’s innovative approach combines a medical, bottom-up perspective—based on the direct observation of bodily properties and activities—with a philosophical, top-down framework grounded in coherent theoretical principles that both challenge and encompass theological concerns.

The project’s main hypothesis is that Avicenna developed a genuine philosophy of the organic body through his works on botany and zoology—traditional disciplines which he redefined to serve his new scientific agenda. In doing so, Avicenna established a conceptual foundation for the life sciences that remained influential well beyond the Middle Ages, extending into the seventeenth century, when figures such as Descartes continued to study his medical writings closely. However, the significance and impact of Avicenna’s 'new biology' on subsequent intellectual traditions have never been systematically examined. AREB addresses this gap in scholarship.

Methodologically, the project combines philological and philosophical approaches. On a specific level, the close examination of primary sources allows for the disentanglement of key theoretical issues at the heart of Avicenna’s biology. This entails first-hand analysis of untranslated, unedited, or poorly edited Greek, Arabic, and Latin texts that remain largely unexplored. On a broader level, AREB challenges long-standing Eurocentric narratives that locate the origins of biology exclusively in the modern West. By demonstrating the continuity between medieval Islamic and Renaissance science, the project redefines the history of biology and counters stereotypes portraying Islam as hostile to scientific innovation.

Through this dual contribution—advancing knowledge in the history and philosophy of biology, and promoting a more inclusive understanding of the scientific tradition—AREB aligns with the MSCA objectives of fostering excellence, interdisciplinarity, and societal impact.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Aligned with the project’s scientific objectives, AREB concentrated on the Graeco-Arabic sources that shaped Avicenna’s new paradigm for biological inquiry, including Aristotle, Galen, and Nicolaus of Damascus, as well as Avicenna’s botanical and zoological writings (Nabāt, Ḥayawān), which he specifically devoted to this investigation. At the same time, the project examined the theoretical principles underpinning this inquiry as articulated in his philosophical works, such as the natural philosophy section of the Shifāʾ and the first book of the Qānūn.

To work effectively with these sources, the Experienced Researcher (ER) received targeted training to complement previously acquired philological and philosophical expertise. This included mentorship from supervisors at UNIPV and AUB, participation in the workshop “Editing Arabic Texts in Manuscripts” (AUB, 28 April – 7 May 2025), and scientific collaboration with researchers at UNIPV (Beneficiary), AUB (Associated Partner for Outgoing Phase), CNRS, and Fordham University (Associated Partners for Secondments).

The research undertaken has resulted in seven published papers and two forthcoming publications, each addressing specific theoretical or methodological aspects of Avicenna’s ‘new biology’. These outputs were reinforced by twelve presentations delivered at international workshops and colloquia. Additionally, the ER has drafted Chapters 1–4 of the monograph, to be submitted at the conclusion of the project.

Through these activities, AREB has consolidated both methodological and theoretical advances in the study of Avicenna’s biology, establishing a solid foundation for the final monograph and related scientific outputs.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Traditionally, Avicenna’s engagement with botany and zoology has been interpreted as secondary or unoriginal, due to his reliance on sources such as Nicolaus of Damascus and Aristotle and his frequent use of self-quotation. AREB has demonstrated that both the unique sections of Avicenna’s botanical and zoological writings and those reworked from his philosophical and medical works constitute a coherent scientific project: the establishment of a new science of the organic body. This paradigm challenges prevailing assumptions and highlights the significant role of Islamic science in the historical development of biology.

The ER presented the first outline of this project in “Philosophy of Medicine in the Islamic World” (The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Medicine). Evidence of the broader influence of Avicenna’s framework can be traced in the works of Albert the Great.

To ensure further uptake and maximize the impact of these results, additional research is required to explore the paradigm’s influence on medical authors across Eastern and Western traditions, as it was specifically intended to inform medical practice. Key needs for future success include sustained international collaboration, access to primary manuscripts and critical editions, and support for dissemination of results in interdisciplinary contexts. These measures will consolidate understanding of Avicenna’s methodological innovations and firmly situate his contributions within the broader history of biology.