Physiognomy Science of intuition

This chapter deals with developments of the discipline of physiognomy as they took place in Islamicate societies until about the 7th/13th century. Describing first its formation on the basis of Greek and Sanskrit texts that were translated during the 3rd/9th century into Arabic, the chapter focuses on the role of two concepts that continue to be relevant in other sciences until the present – intuition and action at distance. The chapter argues that by appropriating teachings from medicine and astrology, physiognomy aimed to overcome problems with its status as a science. It documents that physiognomy was also closely intertwined with ideas and practices of piety and devotion. Developments in Sufism led to a paradigm shift in physiognomy. Although the earlier dominant natural philosophical approach continued to be applied by physicians and other practitioners, Sufis redefined the discipline as a set of doctrines about revealed knowledge and sanctified practices.