Due to technological advances, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students who previously relied on printed books have switched to digital books. Higher education is, therefore, one of the levels of education currently one of the most heavily touched by digital technologies. This study aims to determine Indonesian students' perceptions regarding using digital books in reading classes. 127 students from a private university in Indonesia took part in this research. This type of research was a mixed-method design that used a (...) five-point Likert Scale survey and semi-structured interviews to improve and support the results of the previous quantitative methods. The conclusion of this study covers students' past experiences, usefulness, preference for digital books vs. printed books, and English learning with digital books. In terms of students’ past experiences, 84% of students have read digital books on computers or tablets, and 92% always use their phones. Moreover, in terms of usefulness, the interviews showed that many participants did not know the highlighting and note-taking features of the digital book. 64% of students prefer digital books, but some interviewees prefer printed books with some justification. In addition, 88% said digital books helped them learn English, especially in reading class, supported by interviews with several participants who said they were better at learning vocabulary from the digital book. (shrink)

Janne Mattila’s _The Eudaimonist Ethics of al-Farabi and Avicenna_ offers a systematic exploration of how al-Farabi and Avicenna, two prominent figures in classical Islamic philosophy, developed distinct ethical frameworks grounded in the concept of eudaimonia. This book examines how both thinkers navigated classical Greek influences, especially those of Aristotle and Plato, while integrating Islamic philosophical principles to develop unique ethical systems. The work addresses the relative lack of focused scholarship on these philosophers’ ethical thought, emphasizing that their ethics extend beyond (...) a mere synthesis of Greek philosophy into original contributions grounded in psychology, cosmology, and metaphysics. This book is divided into two major sections: happiness and virtue. It first delves into happiness as the final end for human existence, presenting how al-Farabi and Avicenna interpreted Aristotle’s function argument and contemplative pleasure. Mattila argues that for both thinkers, human flourishing lies in intellectual activity, particularly theoretical contemplation, a stance rooted in their metaphysical, cosmological, and psychological views. The second section investigates virtue, focusing on how both philosophers define virtues not just as traits of moderation but as pathways toward intellectual and spiritual perfection. These ethical ideals are explored through a variety of primary sources, many of which also engage with political philosophy, further demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of their thought. One of the book’s strengths is its reconstruction of ethical theories from fragmented texts, offering new perspectives on al-Farabi and Avicenna’s moral philosophy. The book reveals an interesting tension in their works between the Aristotelian concept of virtue as moderation of bodily passions (_metriopatheia_)—which can also be found in Plato's _Republic_—and the ideal of liberation from bodily passions (_apatheia_), as exemplified in the Stoa and Neoplatonism and prefigured in Plato's _Phaedo_. Mattila convincingly argues that both al-Farabi and Avicenna resolved this tension by positioning intellectual and moral virtues within a framework of philosophical progression. Despite the depth of analysis, the book raises questions about the accessibility and application of such ethical ideals in modern contexts. Some sections might benefit from further elaboration, particularly regarding potential inconsistencies in these thinkers’ views on virtue. However, Mattila succeeds in demonstrating the relevance of the ethical thought of al-Farabi and Avicenna for contemporary discussions on human flourishing, virtue ethics, and the philosophy of happiness. This work is a valuable contribution to the field of Islamic ethics and philosophy, appealing to scholars interested in the intersection of classical Greek philosophy and Islamic thought, as well as those exploring the metaphysical foundations of ethics. By shedding light on lesser-studied dimensions of the intellectual legacies of these two philosophers, the book invites readers to consider the richness and originality of medieval Islamic philosophy. (shrink)