Human Understanding and God-talk in Jāmī and Beyond
This article explores ‘Abd al-Raḥmān al-Jāmī’s use of what I call “pictorial demonstration,” a method of solving philosophical problems by introducing pictorial rather than logical distinctions. It contrasts Jāmī’s integration of reason and imagination with the ratiocentrism of some medieval Islamic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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De Gruyter
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Open Theology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1515/opth-2025-0044 |
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| _version_ | 1839623084583157760 |
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| author | Sami Muhammad |
| author_facet | Sami Muhammad |
| author_sort | Sami Muhammad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article explores ‘Abd al-Raḥmān al-Jāmī’s use of what I call “pictorial demonstration,” a method of solving philosophical problems by introducing pictorial rather than logical distinctions. It contrasts Jāmī’s integration of reason and imagination with the ratiocentrism of some medieval Islamic philosophers and modern analytic traditions, highlighting his use of the light analogy to solve some problems related to the Akbarian doctrine of waḥdat al-wujūd. By showing how Jāmī’s approach transcends the limits of rational argumentation, the article underscores the relevance of his thought to contemporary philosophical discussions on the interplay of reason, imagination, and the ineffable, offering insights into how premodern Islamic traditions can enrich modern philosophical discourse. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bd8315c9977d49a99c58a80c320adf01 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2300-6579 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | De Gruyter |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Theology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bd8315c9977d49a99c58a80c320adf012025-07-21T06:55:02ZengDe GruyterOpen Theology2300-65792025-07-011118711110.1515/opth-2025-0044Human Understanding and God-talk in Jāmī and BeyondSami Muhammad0Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford, United Kingdom; Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomThis article explores ‘Abd al-Raḥmān al-Jāmī’s use of what I call “pictorial demonstration,” a method of solving philosophical problems by introducing pictorial rather than logical distinctions. It contrasts Jāmī’s integration of reason and imagination with the ratiocentrism of some medieval Islamic philosophers and modern analytic traditions, highlighting his use of the light analogy to solve some problems related to the Akbarian doctrine of waḥdat al-wujūd. By showing how Jāmī’s approach transcends the limits of rational argumentation, the article underscores the relevance of his thought to contemporary philosophical discussions on the interplay of reason, imagination, and the ineffable, offering insights into how premodern Islamic traditions can enrich modern philosophical discourse.https://doi.org/10.1515/opth-2025-0044philosophical sufismislamic philosophyarabic philosophyjāmīpictorial demonstration |
| spellingShingle | Sami Muhammad Human Understanding and God-talk in Jāmī and Beyond Open Theology philosophical sufism islamic philosophy arabic philosophy jāmī pictorial demonstration |
| title | Human Understanding and God-talk in Jāmī and Beyond |
| title_full | Human Understanding and God-talk in Jāmī and Beyond |
| title_fullStr | Human Understanding and God-talk in Jāmī and Beyond |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human Understanding and God-talk in Jāmī and Beyond |
| title_short | Human Understanding and God-talk in Jāmī and Beyond |
| title_sort | human understanding and god talk in jami and beyond |
| topic | philosophical sufism islamic philosophy arabic philosophy jāmī pictorial demonstration |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1515/opth-2025-0044 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samimuhammad humanunderstandingandgodtalkinjamiandbeyond |