Science of the Cosmos, Science of the Soul : The Pertinence of Islamic Cosmology in the Modern World

Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; Introduction; 1. A Vanishing Heritage; Ijtihād; The Role of the Intellectual Tradition; The Current Situation; The Gods of Modernity; The Goal of Intellectual Understanding; The Rejection of Tradition; 2. Intellectual Knowledge; Verifiable Knowledge; Intellect; Basic Findings; A Visitor from the Past; 3. The Rehabilitation of Thought; Thought; The Intellectual Tradition; Taqlīd and Tahq̣īq; Premodern Science; The Reign of Takthīr; The Goal of Thought; 4. Beyond Ideology; The Omnipresence of Transmission; Breaking the Shell of Dogmatism.;Islamic Intellectualism is dead: or so argues William Chittick in this radical new book challenging modern trends in religious thought. Whilst many may say that Islamic studies thrives as a subject, Chittick points to the words of one of his former Professors when describing young colleagues: ""they know everything one can possibly know about a text, except what it says"". Indeed, Chittick states that it is impossible to understand ancient Islamic texts without the years of contemplative study that are anathema to the modern education system. While the modern intellectual with faith often t. Cover Title Copyright Contents Introduction 1. A Vanishing Heritage Ijtihād The Role of the Intellectual Tradition The Current Situation The Gods of Modernity The Goal of Intellectual Understanding The Rejection of Tradition 2. Intellectual Knowledge Verifiable Knowledge Intellect Basic Findings A Visitor from the Past 3. The Rehabilitation of Thought Thought The Intellectual Tradition Taqlīd and Tahq̣īq Premodern Science The Reign of Takthīr The Goal of Thought 4. Beyond Ideology The Omnipresence of Transmission Breaking the Shell of Dogmatism. Asserting AbsolutenessMythic Imagination Self-Understanding 5. The Unseen Men Sufism Cosmos and Soul Naming Reality The One and the Many The Living Universe Islamic Science The Efficacy of Names Inadequate Names The Myth of the Unseen Men 6. The Anthropocosmic Vision Ahistorical and Historical Knowledge The Philosophical Quest The Methodology of Tahq̣īq Understanding the Soul Origin and Return Omniscience 7. The Search for Meaning Two Modes of Knowing Subject and Object The Worldview The Self Meaning Notes Index. With Academic Courses Either Encouraging Commercialism, Or Cultivating Zealots, Chittick States That It Is Impossible To Understand Classical Islamic Texts Without The Years Of Contemplative Study That Are Anathema To The Modern Education System. Insisting Upon A Return To The Ways Of The Ancient Wisdom Tradition, Which Saw The Quest For Knowledge With Academic Courses Either Encouraging Commercialism, Or Cultivating Zealots, Chittick States That It Is Impossible To Understand Classical Islamic Texts Without The Years Of Contemplative Study That Are Anathema To The Modern Education System. Insisting Upon A Return To The Ways Of The Ancient Wisdom Tradition, Which Saw The Quest For Knowledge Of The Soul, The World, And God As A Unifying Spiritual Discipline, Chittick Maintains That The Study Of Islamic Texts Cannot Be Treated Separately From Self-understanding. William C. Chittick. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [151]-152) And Index.

Islamic Intellectualism is dead: or so argues William Chittick in this radical new book challenging modern trends in religious thought. Whilst many may say that Islamic studies thrives as a subject, Chittick points to the words of one of his former Professors when describing young colleagues: "they know everything one can possibly know about a text, except what it says". Indeed, Chittick states that it is impossible to understand ancient Islamic texts without the years of contemplative study that are anathema to the modern education system. While the modern intellectual with faith often treats their studies and faith in two seperate spheres, Chittick argues that it is essential to return to the ways of the ancient Sufis, who viewed knowledge of the soul, the world, and God as an extension of the same thing, and he bemoans the loss of the spiritual and intellectual highs of the Medieval Islamic period.

Islamic Intellectualism is dead: or so argues William Chittick in this new book. Whilst many may say that Islamic studies thrives as a subject, Chittick points to the words of one of his former Professors when describing young colleagues: they know everything one can possibly know about a text, except what it says. Indeed, Chittick states that it is impossible to understand ancient Islamic texts without the years of contemplative study that are anathema to the modern education system. While modern intellectuals with faith often treat their studies and faith in two separate spheres, Chittick argues that it is essential to return to the ways of the ancient Sufis, who viewed knowledge of the soul, the world, and God as an extension of the same thing With academic courses either encouraging commercialism, or cultivating zealots, Chittick states that it is impossible to understand classical Islamic texts without the years of contemplative study that are anathema to the modern education system. Insisting upon a return to the ways of the ancient wisdom tradition, which saw the quest for knowledge of the soul, the world, and God as a unifying spiritual discipline, Chittick maintains that the study of Islamic texts cannot be treated separately from self-understanding. Fascinating, radical, and a true challenge to modern trends in academic study, this book opens a new debate in Islamic thought. In this profound book, William Chittick examines the demise of the Sufi academic tradition, questioning how Islamic thought can be reclaimed from ideology and commercialism.