This book examines the modern Arab rediscovery of the Mu'tazila through a critical assessment of the concept of Neo-Mu'tazilism and by concentrating on the various intentions and contexts of the use of Mu'tazilite ideas. The main part of the book analyzes five ways of understanding Mu'tazilite ideas - liberal, historic-materialist, political-Islamic, literary-exegetical and through comparison with the philosophie des valeurs - as well as one way of dealing with the school historically: the treatment of the mihna. The book discusses a wide range of authors of whom many, such as Ahmad Amin, Husain Muruwa, Hasan Hanafi, Muhammad ‘Amara, Nasr Abu Zaid und Muhammad 'Abid al-Gabiri, have had an important impact on modern Arab-Islamic thought. By also presenting authors such as Zuhdi Garallah, Chikh Bouamrane, Rasid al-Hayyun, Amin Nayif Diyab, Samih Dugaim, 'Adil al-'Awwa und Fahmi Gad'an, additional light is shed on a number of lesser known figures.