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The Improvement of Human Reason

Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Malik Ibn Tufail (1105 - 1185)
Translated by Simon Ockley (1678 - 1720)

The story revolves around Ḥayy ibn Yaqẓān, a little boy who grew up on an island in the Indies under the equator, isolated from the people, in the bosom of an antelope that raised him, feeding him with her milk. Ḥayy has just learned to walk and imitates the sounds of antelopes, birds, and other animals in his surroundings. He learns their languages, and he learns to follow the actions of animals by imitating their instinct.
He makes his own shoes and clothes from the skins of animals, and studies the stars. He reaches a higher level of knowledge, of the finest of astrologists. His continuous explorations and observation of creatures and the environment lead him to gain great knowledge in natural science, philosophy, and religion. He concludes that, at the basis of the creation of the universe, a great creator must exist. Ḥayy ibn Yaqẓān lived a humble modest life as Sufi and forbade himself from eating meat.
Once 30 years old, he meets his first human, who has landed on his isolated island. By the age of 49, he is ready to teach other people about the knowledge he gained throughout his life. - Summary by Wikipedia

Genre(s): Culture & Heritage Fiction

Language: English