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

Islamic Intellectualism is dead: or so argues William Chittick in this profound 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 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. A Vanishing Heritage......Page 14 Ijtiha ̄d......Page 16 The Role of the Intellectual Tradition......Page 18 The Current Situation......Page 21 The Gods of Modernity......Page 25 The Goal of Intellectual Understanding......Page 29 The Rejection of Tradition......Page 31 Intellectual Knowledge......Page 36 Verifiable Knowledge......Page 38 Intellect......Page 42 Basic Findings......Page 43 A Visitor from the Past......Page 46 The Rehabilitation of Thought......Page 52 Thought......Page 53 The Intellectual Tradition......Page 57 Taqlı ̄d and Tah. qı ̄q......Page 58 Premodern Science......Page 60 The Reign of Takthı ̄r......Page 65 The Goal of Thought......Page 68 Beyond Ideology......Page 72 The Omnipresence of Transmission......Page 73 Breaking the Shell of Dogmatism......Page 75 Asserting Absoluteness......Page 78 Mythic Imagination......Page 82 Self-Understanding......Page 86 The Unseen Men......Page 88 Sufism......Page 92 Cosmos and Soul......Page 95 Naming Reality......Page 97 The One and the Many......Page 103 The Living Universe......Page 105 Islamic Science......Page 107 The Efficacy of Names......Page 109 Inadequate Names......Page 112 The Myth of the Unseen Men......Page 114 The Anthropocosmic Vision......Page 122 Ahistorical and Historical Knowledge......Page 123 The Philosophical Quest......Page 127 The Methodology of Tah. qı ̄q......Page 131 Understanding the Soul......Page 134 Origin and Return......Page 138 Omniscience......Page 141 The Search for Meaning......Page 146 Two Modes of Knowing......Page 147 Subject and Object......Page 149 The Worldview......Page 151 The Self......Page 155 Meaning......Page 157 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 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 "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.