Ghazali was responsible for formulating the Ash'ari school of atomism. He argued that atoms are the only perpetual, material things in existence, and all else in the world is “accidental” meaning something that lasts for only an instant.
Al-Ghazali's criticism of Aristotelian physics and Aristotelian cosmology played an important role in the development of an independent astronomy over the next several centuries. From the 12th century onwards, Islamic astronomy began becoming a science primarily dependant upon observation rather than philosophy.
His support for the study of anatomy and dissection was influential in the developement of modern medicine.
He also established the application of three types of logical systems in Islamic law and jurisprudence: reasoning by analogy, deductive logic, and inductive logic.
In psychology, Ghazali discussed the concept of the self and the causes of its misery and happiness. Hewas one of the first to divide the senses into five external senses ( hearing, sight, smell, taste and touch) and five internal senses: common sense, imagination, reflection, recollection (which remembers the outer form of objects in memory and recollects the meaning), and memory (where impressions received through the senses are stored).
Among his many writings are the following intriguing titles in no special order:
- The Incoherence of the Philosophers
- The Incoherence of the Incoherence (sic)
- The Nature of Love
- Median in Belief
- The best means in explaining Allah's Beautiful Names
- Friendship and Sincerity
- Beginning of Guidance
- The Unity of God
- Methodology for the Worshipers
- Deliverance from Error
- Man’s Highest Happiness
- The Alchemy of Happiness
- The Niche for Lights
- A Just Balance
- The Book of Knowledge
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