logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
33m 6s

Nadia Maftouni on the Legacy of Ibn al-H...

AFIKRA
About this episode

The afikra podcast is back with a new season hosted by Mikey Muhanna. We kick off with an episode in partnership with Fujifilm and Gulf Photo Plus with Iranian academic, philosophical author, and artist Nadia Maftouni, who delves into the groundbreaking contributions of Ibn al-Haytham to modern science. Known as the father of modern optics, Ibn al-Haytham's extensive work on camera obscura, empirical science, and mathematics laid the foundation for future scientific advancements. Maftouni explores his methodology, significant works like the "Book of Optics," and how his concepts influenced later scholars such as German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler. Additionally, Maftouni sheds light on Ibn al-Haytham's time under house arrest and his enduring impact on science and philosophy.

00:00 Introduction
01:34 Historical Background of Camera Obscura
03:16 Ibn al-Haytham's Contributions to Optics
04:50 Ibn al-Haytham's Methodology and Scientific Approach
06:49 Ibn al-Haytham's Influence on Later Scientists
07:51 House Arrest and Major Works
12:07 Philosophical Views and Scientific Method
16:19 Transmission of Knowledge to Europe
17:45 Ibn al-Haytham's Legacy and Influence
31:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Nadia Maftouni is an Iranian academic, philosopher, author, and artist. She's a leading scholar of Farabian, Avicennian, and Suhrawardian philosophy, and also specializes in Jurisprudence and Islamic History. She is a professor at the University of Tehran, a Senior Research Scholar at Yale Law School, and serves on the History of Philosophy Quarterly editorial board. 

Explore Gulf Photo Plus 👉 https://gulfphotoplus.com/

Hosted by: 
Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

FOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/lb/podcast/the-afikra-podcast/id1529437743
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5nafoF1Zs7F48mGZjlhrze
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1014643869

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl5xaTkBDrUKLCulvoCE8ubX&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Up next
Jul 7
Rana AlMutawa | Unveiling Dubai's Complex Social Fabric
Host Mikey Muhanna talks to Rana AlMutawa, Assistant Professor of Social Research and Public Policy at NYU Abu Dhabi and author of "Everyday Life in the Spectacular City, Making Home in Dubai." They delve into the misunderstood complexities of Dubai's social dynamics, exploring u ... Show More
58m 45s
Jun 30
Mental Healthcare For Children That Have Survived War | Dr Atif Magbool
We're joined by Dr Atif Magbool at Sidra Medicine who talks to us about the immense challenges and efforts in providing mental healthcare to children and women in crisis-affected areas. Dr Magbool shares his journey into pediatric psychiatry – primarily influenced by early experi ... Show More
32m 38s
Jun 25
Art, Identity & Technology in Riyadh | Khaled Makshoush, Aya Abu Ghazaleh & Youssef El Idrissi
Host Mikey Muhanna interviews emerging artists, Khaled Makshoush, Youssef El Idrissi and Aya Abu Ghazaleh, who share their experiences and artistic practices, covering their backgrounds, inspirations, and the challenges of being a young artist. Recorded live from Riyadh at Diriya ... Show More
50m 26s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Sonja Mejcher-Atassi | An Impossible Friendship: Group Portrait, Jerusalem Before & After 1948
This episode was recorded on July 10th, 2024.Check out Sonja's reading recommendations for Palestinian literature from the 20th Century 👉https://www.afikra.com/daftarjournal/sonja-mejcher-atassi-book-recommendationsAnd dive deeper into the history of the King David Hotel 👉https ... Show More
1h 4m
Jun 2019
#042: Jesus in Sufism: Ibn 'Arabi, Creativity & the Christic Archetype w/ Ali Hussain
Dr. Ali Hussain obtained his doctoral degree in Islamic Studies from the University of Michigan, Department of Middle Eastern Studies. His research focuses on the image of Jesus Christ in the writings of Sufi mystics, specifically Muhyi al-Din Ibn al-'Arabi (d. 1240). He is also ... Show More
1h 41m
Aug 2022
Jameed and Other Jordanian Delicacies | Omar Sartawi
In this Matbakh event, we talked to Omar Sartawi about his creations and subtle blend of flavors from his travels to Europe and the Arab Gulf with his heritage and Jordanian roots. Omar’s popular consecration came in 2017, when he took the local food scene by storm with the launc ... Show More
26m 42s
May 2023
Shenila Khoja-Moolji, "Rebuilding Community: Displaced Women and the Making of a Shia Ismaili Muslim Sociality" (Oxford UP, 2023)
In her moving, sophisticated, and analytically groundbreaking new book Rebuilding Community: Displaced Women and the Making of a Shia Ismaili Muslim Sociality (Oxford UP, 2023), Shenila Khoja-Moolji recounts and engages critical narratives of displacement and migration to examine ... Show More
39m 23s
May 2023
Daniel Martin Varisco, "Seasonal Knowledge and the Almanac Tradition in the Arab Gulf" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022)
Seasonal Knowledge and the Almanac Tradition in the Arab Gulf (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022) is the first in English to survey indigenous knowledge of seasonal, astronomical, and agricultural information in Arab Gulf almanacs. It provides an extensive analysis of the traditional info ... Show More
1h 22m
Aug 2022
Egyptian Food on Social Media | Wesam Masoud
In this Matbakh event, we talked to Wesam Masoud about his creativity in developing and enhancing cooking techniques and flavor pairings. Chef Wesam is known for teaching the basics of cooking techniques, food history and food science in an engaging and idiosyncratic style.Create ... Show More
22m 54s
Sep 2023
Preserving the Past, Enriching the Future: A Conversation with Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori
On this week's episode, we chat with Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, founder of the Crossroads of Civilizations Museum (CCM) in Dubai. We unpack the importance of preserving the Arab narrative through art, history, enlightenment, and meticulous documentation. The museum aims to promote ... Show More
23m 19s
Apr 4
Short Stories from Arab Cities | Exploring Urban Narratives With the Co-Editors of "Mudun" Reem Khorshid & Faris Bseiso
In this episode of Ehkili, we speak with Reem Khorshid and Faris Bseiso about their literary project Mudun, published by Kaph Books and supported by the Barjeel Art Foundation. They trace the origins of this anthology of short stories about Arab cities, which began as a pandemic ... Show More
48m 37s
May 2023
FADI BOUKARAM | Social Media & Arabic Etymology | Outline
Fadi Bou Karam talks about the history of Levantine etymologies and their possible origins. He discusses the influence of the Ottomans on the way certain words are pronounced, notably in Lebanese Arabic. The words include fruits and vegetables, such as artichoke, orange, loquat & ... Show More
59m 54s
Sep 2024
Khatt Chronicles in Conversation With Amir Mahdi Moslehi
In this episode of Khatt Chronicles, Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès interviews Iranian type designer and researcher Amir Mahdi Moslehi. They discuss his journey into calligraphy and type design. Moslehi discusses his extensive research into #Persian calligraphic and #script heritage, ... Show More
57m 18s