“They are very, very passionate about philosophy in the sense that Arabs believe they saved Western civilization. During the Middle Ages, many of these texts, Greek texts particularly, basically disappeared and the libraries were burned. Many of these texts were located in libraries throughout the Middle East, and the Arabs in a certain sense were able to recuperate and revive and resuscitate ancient Greek tradition. The texts that Thomas Aquinas had available to him wouldn’t be possible without the translators translating. They translated from Greek into Arabic and then ultimately into Latin. So there’s a whole historical continuity between Greek civilization and Arabic civilization in that sense.” Josh Hayes, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Alvernia University, Philosophy professor gets royal welcome in Saudi Arabia [Alvernia University]