Written by a well-known expert on Islamic philosophy, this is an insightful guide to the life, works, and influence of the twelfth-century Spanish Muslim philosopher, Averroes (Ibn Rushd). This stimulating book covers all the key areas of Averroes' life, from his transmission of Aristotelian thought to Western Europe, to his conflict with the Ash'arite theologians, which ripped the Islamic intellectual world apart and led to the burning of his books in Cordova. Emphasizing Averroes' pivotal role, not only as the founding father of rational thought in the West, but also in the levelopment of Islamic philosophy generally. Raising a host of contemporary philosophical issues, and with a detailed bibliography of both primary and secondary sources, this introductory text is suitable for scholars, students, and all those who wish to know more about Averroes and his great impact on Western thought.