Ibn Tufail
(Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Tufail al-Qasi)
Newly Translated from the Original Arabick
by Simon Ockley
(1708)
The Improvement of
HUMAN REASON,
Exhibited in the LIFE of
Hai Ebn Yokdhan:
Written in Arabick above 500 Years ago, by Abu Jaafar Ebn Tophail.
In which is demonstrated,
By what Methods one may, by the meer
Light of Nature, attain the Knowledg
of things Natural and Supernatural;
more particularly the Knowledg of God,
and the Affairs of another Life.
Illustrated with proper FIGURES,
Newly Translated from the Original Arabick by
SIMON OCKLEY,
A.M. Vicar of Swanesey in Cambridgshire.
With an APPENDIX,
In Which the Possibility of Man's attaining
the True Knowledg of GOD, and
Things necessary to Salvation, without
Instruction, is briefly consider'd.
To the Reverend
Mr. Edward Pococke,
Rector of
MINAL, in Wiltshire.
Reverend SIR,
Hai Ebn Yokdhan returns to you again, in a Dress different from that which you sent him out in. Wherever he comes, he acknowledges you for his first and best Master; and confesses, that his being put in a Capacity to travel thro' Europe, is owing to your Hand. I could not in Equity send him to any other Person, you being the sole Proprietor. And as your Learning enables you to do him Justice, so your Candor will incline you to pardon what is by me done amiss. Both which Qualifications you enjoy, as a Paternal Inheritance, descending from the Reverend and Learned Dr. Pococke, the Glory and Ornament of our Age and Nation. Whose Memory I much reverence, and how much I acknowledge my self indebted to him for his Learned Works, I thought I could no way express better, than by taking some Opportunity to pay my Respects to you, Sir, the worthy Son of so great a Father. And no fitter Bearer than Hai Ebn Yokdhan, with whose Character and Language you are so well acquainted, and to whom you have long ago shown so great a Respect, that I have no reason to fear but he will be welcome.
I am,
SIR,
Your most humble Servant,
Simon Ockley,