The Resume

(801-873)
Born in Basra, Iraq
Iraqi philosopher, polymath, mathematician, physician and musician
Birth name was Abu Yūsuf Yaʻqūb ibn ʼIsḥāq aṣ-Ṣabbāḥ al-Kindī
Known as Alkindus in Latin writings
Revered as 'the Philosopher of the Arabs' and 'Father of Islamic Philosophy'
Wrote over 260 books, on fields ranging from geometry, medicine, philosophy, logic, and physics
Wrote 4 volumes, Ketab fi Isti'mal al-'Adad al-Hindi (On the Use of Indian Numerals)
Wrote treatises on arithmetic, lines, geometry, the harmony of numbers, multiplication with numbers, relative quantities, measuring proportion/time, and numerical procedures/cancellation
Also known for ‘The Book of the Judgement of the Stars,’ ‘On the Stellar Rays,’ ‘De mutatione temporum (On the Changing of the Weather),’ ‘The Choices of Days,’ ‘On the Revolutions of the Years,’ ‘De Signis Astronomiae Applicitis as Mediciam (‘On the Signs of Astronomy as applied to Medicine’), and Treatise on the Spirituality of the Planets

Why he might be annoying:

His birth name was extremely long.
He was born into nobility (both his father and grandfather were influential governors).
A majority of his writings were lost or destroyed after his death.
He was unpopular with later scholars for his insisting that metaphysics and theology were one in the same.
He openly denounced Mutazilite scholars who professed their beliefs in the atom.
It is believed that his theology caused him to fall out of favor with the Caliph al-Mutawakkil, however more likely it was caused by heated infighting within the House of Wisdom.
He was the most influential figure in the Islamic Golden Age, but has been largely forgotten, overshadowed by Al-Farabi and Ibn-Sina.

Why he might not be annoying:

He is the namesake for the Arabic music group, Ensemble Al-Kindi.
Geralomo Cardano called him one of the 12 greatest minds of the Middle Ages.
His works led to developments in physics, mathematics, medicine and music.
He wrote on topics as diverse as perfumes, swords, jewels/glass, dyes, zoology, tides, mirrors, and earthquakes.
It is believed that his body of work was largely destroyed by the Mongols, who torched all major libraries during their invasions.
He was snared by the Caliph al-Mutawakkil's obsessive persecution of Islamic scholars deemed 'unorthodox.'
As such, the Caliph ordered him to be beaten and tortured, and briefly had his library confiscated.
He successfully incorporated Aristotelian and neo-Platonist thought into an Islamic philosophical framework, popularizing Greek philosophy for later Islamic scholars (and, as a result, Renaissance Europe).
He said 'we ought not to be embarrassed of appreciating the truth and of obtaining it wherever it comes from, even if it comes from races distant and nations different from us.'

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• A Hospital is Named in My Honor
• Adults Who Probably Died a Virgin
• BoyWiththeGreenHair’s Profiles [Series 03]
• Hyphenated Names
• I Died in Debt
• I was Tortured
• Long Names
• Look at Me, I'm Postage
• Look at Me, I'm Relaxing
• Look at Me, I'm Writing
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Look at My Turban
• Medieval Scientists
• Medieval Times
• Monarchs, Royalty and Nobles
• Nobody Told Me I'm Old
• Philosophers: Medieval Period [800-1250 AD]
• Profiles 36501-36750 (Ranked: 36597)
• Scientists
• Teachers

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 17 Votes: 5.88% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying