Peter Pormann and Peter Adamson, translators of Oxford University Press Pakistan (OUPP) publication, The Philosophical Works of al-Kindi, have won this year’s Custodians of the Two Holy Mosques Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Award for Translation. This book includes complete English renderings of the philosophical writings of al-Kindi, the ‘Philosopher of the Arabs’, recognized throughout the centuries as the first philosopher of Islam. He is considered to be one of the greatest figures of medieval philosophy, among the pioneers of the process of integrating Greek philosophical ideas into Islamic culture
This was a historical undertaking since most of the writings of al-Kindi that Adamson and Pormann translated have been rendered into English for the first time in the history of world scholarship. With a view to addressing a wider audience, they provide extensive explanatory material in the form of an overall introduction, introductions to each work, and copious notes explaining al-Kindi’s ideas, sources, and influences.
Established in 2006 by the King Abdulaziz Public Library Council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this annual international award is conferred upon translators and prominent institutions for distinguished works that contribute significantly to the field of translation from and into Arabic. The award recognizes excellence in works of translation, acknowledges translators’ accomplishments, and encourages efforts exerted in the field of translation. Seeking to promote cultural exchange among peoples of the world and to advance scholarly and intellectual interaction among them, the award aims at establishing standards of excellence in translation with regard to originality, scientific value, and linguistic quality.
The Oxford award-winning book is the 6th volume in the ongoing series of OUPP called Studies in Islamic Philosophy, a series edited by Syed Nomanul Haq who works in consultation with an Editorial Board consisting of Michael Cook of Princeton, Everett Rowson of New Your University, and Robert Wisnovsky of McGill.
Peter E. Pormann is currently Wellcome Trust Associate Professor, Classics and Ancient History, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
Peter Adamson is currently Professor of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy at King’s College, London, UK.
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