8th Century

The 8th century is invoked in Edmond Kirsch's presentation as a pivotal era in the history of scientific inquiry, specifically through the example of Baghdad. Kirsch describes the city during this period as the greatest center of learning on earth, a place that welcomed all religions, philosophies, and sciences to its universities and libraries. He states that for five hundred years, the outpouring of scientific innovation that flowed from the city was like nothing the world had ever seen, and its influence is still felt in modern culture.

Scientific Legacy of the 8th Century

Kirsch uses the 8th century to illustrate the profound and lasting impact of Islamic scientific achievement. He points out that to this day, more than two-thirds of the stars in the sky have names derived from Arabic, because they were discovered by astronomers in the Arab world. He also notes that the numbering system used globally is Arabic numerals, not Roman numerals, and that words like algebra, algorithm, and zero are all of Arabic origin. This legacy, he argues, demonstrates a period when scientific progress flourished under a culture of openness.

The Collapse of Islamic Science

The 8th century's golden age is contrasted with its abrupt end, which Kirsch attributes to a shift in religious orthodoxy. He explains that by the end of the 11th century, a brilliant scholar named Hamid al-Ghazali wrote persuasive texts questioning the logic of Plato and Aristotle and declaring mathematics to be 'the philosophy of the devil.' This began a confluence of events that undermined scientific thinking, making the study of theology compulsory and eventually collapsing the entire Islamic scientific movement. Kirsch uses this historical arc to argue that religious suppression can halt scientific progress, a theme central to his own controversial announcement.