In this work which was offered on May 16-18, the Persian polymath and philosopher Abu Ali ibn Sina (c.980-1037) attempted to “…integrate all aspects of science and religion in a grand metaphysical vision and thus explain the formation of the universe and elucidate the problems of evil, prayer, providence, prophecies, miracles and marvels”.
That summation is taken from a catalogue entry prepared for the 2001 Sotheby’s sale at £13,000 of a copy (once owned by the 17th century diplomat and natural philosopher Sir Kenelm Digby) that formed part of the extensive JRR Ritman collections.
