In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life of Averroes, also known as Ibn Rushd, the Andalusian philosopher, judge, physician, and polymath often called the father of rationalism. Born in Córdoba in 1126 into a family of elite legal scholars, Averroes seemed destined to become the ultimate establishment insider. His grandfather and father had both served as chief judges, and Averroes mastered Islamic law before expanding into medicine, astronomy, physics, and Greek philosophy. His turning point came in 1169, when he was brought before the Almohad caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf and asked the dangerous question of whether the heavens were eternal or created in time. What could have been a trap became an opportunity, as the caliph revealed his own deep interest in Plato and Aristotle and gave Averroes the protection needed to begin his vast project of e ...