Roshdi Rashed
Rushdī Rāshid is an Egyptian-born historian of mathematics and science who has spent much of his academic career in France. He is celebrated for his groundbreaking research on the history of Arabic mathematics and sciences, significantly contributing to our understanding of their development and influence.
Books
Abu Kamil Algèbre et analyse diophantienne
Angles et Grandeur
Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science
Founding Figures and Commentators in Arabic Mathematics
Light-Based Science
Mathématiques et Philosophie
Meet the Author & Works
What was Islamic in the Islamic scientific tradition?
Science is universal. This is not a postulate, but a basic feature which defines scientific knowledge itself. A scientific result, of whatever kind, can only be fully communicable and provable by stringent arguments. But this epistemic universality is not at all separate from the living history of human beings and from institutions. That is to ... Read more
Rushdī Rāshid was born in Egypt in 1936. He pursued his higher education in Cairo University, where he studied philosophy. His early intellectual interests laid the foundation for his later work in the history of science, which requires a strong understanding of philosophical underpinnings. He later moved to France to continue his academic pursuits. He obtained his Doctorate (Doctorat d’État) from the University of Paris (Sorbonne). His doctoral research focused on the history of mathematics, marking the beginning of his distinguished career in this field. Throughout his career, Rāshid held prominent research positions at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, where he dedicated himself to the study of Arabic scientific manuscripts and the intellectual history of the Arab world. He has also held visiting professorships and lectured at various universities internationally. His research has been characterized by a meticulous examination of primary sources, leading to significant revisions in the understanding of the timeline and nature of scientific advancements in the Arab world. He has highlighted the originality of Arab mathematical concepts and their influence on later European mathematics. As mentioned previously, Rāshid’s exceptional contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the King Faisal International Prize in Islamic Studies (2007), the Kenneth O. May Prize for the History of Mathematics (2017), and the Sheikh Zayed Book Award (2016), among others. These accolades underscore the profound impact of his scholarship on the field. Rushdī Rāshid’s work has not only illuminated a crucial period in the history of science but has also fostered a greater appreciation for the intellectual heritage of the Arab world. His detailed analysis of original texts and his insightful interpretations have made his work essential reading for scholars and anyone interested in the development of scientific thought. He continues to be a leading voice in the field, shaping our understanding of the history of mathematics and