Translating thought: A digital inquiry into Gundissalinus’s interpretive influence on Yanbuʿ al-Ḥayā

Ibn Gabirol's Yanbu' al-Haya , a philosophical work originally written in Arabic, reached the Latin West as the Fons Vitae through a Latin translation in the 12th century. The Latin translation of Ibn Gabirol's Yanbu' al-Haya , known as the Fons Vitae, has been the subject of scholarly scrutiny due to its apparent inconsistencies, doctrinal challenges, and contradictions. This study explores the possible changes and alterations made in the Latin translation of Ibn Gabirol's work, utilizing a range of computational methods. Employing computational stylometric techniques such as Latent Semantic Analysis, Cosine Distance Analysis, and Word Mover Distance, the research reveals that Gundissalinus, as the Latin translator of the Yanbu' al-Haya , allowed his own philosophical views and interpretations to substantially shape the Latin rendering of the text. Fons Vitae exhibits notable semantic and stylistic similarities to Gundissalinus's original works, particularly De Anima , De Processione Mundi , and De Immortalitate Animae , suggesting an infusion of Aristotelian elements that diverge from Ibn Gabirol's Neoplatonic Arabic original. The study demonstrates how computational methods can illuminate complex textual transmission processes and the impact of translators on the works they interpret, offering new insights into intercultural exchange and the development of medieval philosophical thought. The findings support the assertions of scholars, who argue that the Latin translation of the Yanbu' al-Haya represents a deliberate recontextualization of Ibn Gabirol's work within the dominant philosophical currents of the time.