David al-Mukammas

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David al-Mukammas

fl. 900s

Arab Jewish philosopher who adapted Greek and Arab concepts, and was the first Jewish thinker to apply the ideas of Aristotle. His principal work is Ishrun maqalat, or the "Twenty Chapters," in which he maintained that science provides knowledge of reality and consists of two elements, theoretical and practical knowledge. At one point Mukammas converted to Christianity, but he later returned to Judaism, and in his writings he argued against both the Christian and Muslim belief systems.

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