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This event will begin promptly at 17.00 BST
The term 鈥淪ympathy鈥� is derived from the Greek 蟽蠀渭蟺峤蔽肝滴刮�, the state of feeling together (derived from the composite of fellow/together [蟽蠀谓]-feeling/passion [蟺维胃慰蟼]). In modern times it is used as a form of affective subjectivity exemplified by the 鈥淚 feel with you鈥� formula.
This talk aims to shed some light on how the notion of 鈥渟ympathy鈥� has been used across time and by different intellectual/religious traditions. In particular, Dr De Cillis will look at the Stoic and Neoplatonic notion of sympatheia highlighting how, in the late classical and early Hellenistic period, it was employed to make sense of the natural world, across a plethora of disciplines. Within Islam, the notion was adapted, inter alia, in the intellectual systems of Ab奴 Ma士shar (d. 886) and al-Kind墨 (d. 873), and within Ismailism 鈥渟ympathy鈥� was employed by Fatimid scholars such as 岣m墨d al-D墨n al-Kirm膩n墨 (d. c. 1021) who integrated it within the concept of 鈥淭he Balance of Religion鈥� (m墨z膩n al-diy膩na).
Identified as the main force operating throughout the Cosmos and applied, as a doctrine, in Renaissance alchemy, magic and medicine, 鈥渟ympathy鈥� features in many Italian Renaissance thinkers such as Pico della Mirandola (d. 1494) and Gian Battista della Porta (d. 1615).
Hosted by the Institute of Ismaili Studies (London) and convened by Dr Orkhan Mir-Kasimov, the听Islamic History and Thought Lecture Series听is designed to invite scholars of various international academic institutions, specialising in intellectual, social and political aspects of medieval and early modern Islamic societies, to present and discuss their research. Watch previous lectures on our听.
Speakers
Dr Maria De Cillis
Dr Maria De Cillis is an Associate Professor and Head of the Shi士i Studies Unit (Interim) in the Department of Academic Research and Publications at the IIS, where she is also the Managing Editor of the Shi士i Heritage Series. Dr De Cillis obtained her bachelor鈥檚 degree (with honours) from the Faculty of Languages and Literatures in the Department of Arabic and English Studies at the Universita' degli Studi di Napoli 鈥淟鈥橭rientale鈥�, Naples, Italy. She completed her Master鈥檚 in Islamic Studies (with distinction) and was awarded her PhD in Islamic Studies from the Near and Middle East Section, Faculty of Languages and Cultures, SOAS University of London.
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Dr Toby Mayer
Dr Toby Mayer is a Research Associate in the听Qur鈥檃nic Studies Unit听at 国产视频, London. After completing his undergraduate degree in Indian Studies at the University of Cambridge, he went on to study Medieval Arabic thought at the University of Oxford, where he wrote his doctoral thesis on the Book of Allusions (Isharat) by the major Persian philosopher Ibn Sina.听
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Cover image: 岣m墨d al-D墨n al-Kirm膩n墨鈥檚 Rahat al-士aql f. 130a. Provided by Russell Harris and the Ismaili Special Collections Unit. Ms 1454
Please note听filming and photography may take place during the event, and be used across our website, newsletters and social media accounts. These could include broad shots of the audience and lecture theatre, speakers during the talk, and of audience members participating in Q&A.听
Views expressed in this lecture are those of the presenting scholars, not necessarily of IIS, the Ismaili community or leadership. Promotion of this lecture is not an explicit endorsement of the ideas presented.
