This book examines all verses of the Quran involving knowledge related concepts. It begins with the argument that an analysis of the Quranic concept of ignorance points to epistemic virtues that can pave our way towards gaining knowledge and/or understanding. It deals with the Quranic concepts of perceptual, rational, and revelatory knowledge as well as understanding and wisdom in the light of recent discussions in Western analytic epistemology. It also argues that the relevant Quranic verses seem to involve concept of an epistemic conscience whose proper exercise can yield knowledge or understanding. While not overlooking the Quranic emphasis on revelation as a source of knowledge, the book draws our attention to a remarkable overlap between some strains of contemporary virtue epistemology and Quranic approach to knowledge. It shows that the Quranic verses suggest a progressive sequence from propositional knowledge to understanding to wisdom.
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1 Introductory: An Overview |
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1 | (4) |
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2 From Ignorance to Knowledge: Deriving Epistemic Virtues from the Qur'anic Conception of Ignorance |
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5 | (20) |
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5 | (1) |
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2.2 A Note on Contemporary Virtue Epistemology |
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6 | (8) |
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2.3 Deriving Epistemic Virtues from the Qur'anic Conception of Ignorance |
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14 | (11) |
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23 | (2) |
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3 The Qur'anic Hints about Epistemic Responsibility: An Analysis of Etymological Variants of 'i-l-m in the Text |
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25 | (18) |
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25 | (1) |
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25 | (3) |
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3.3 Intellectual Knowledge |
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28 | (2) |
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3.4 Knowledge by Revelation |
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30 | (5) |
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3.5 Overview of the Qur'anic Hints About Knowledge |
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35 | (8) |
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41 | (2) |
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4 Taqwa or Reflective Conscience in the Qur'an and Some Additional Epistemic Virtues |
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43 | (14) |
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43 | (1) |
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4.2 The Concept of Taqwa in the Qur'an |
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43 | (10) |
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4.3 Additional Epistemic Virtues in the Qur'an |
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53 | (4) |
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55 | (2) |
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57 | (20) |
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57 | (1) |
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5.2 Analysis of the Relevant Verses |
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58 | (5) |
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63 | (1) |
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5.4 Epistemic State of Understanding in Contemporary Epistemology |
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64 | (1) |
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5.5 Linda Zagzebsky's View |
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64 | (2) |
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5.6 Jonathan Kvanvig's View |
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66 | (2) |
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5.7 Duncan Pritchard's View |
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68 | (4) |
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5.8 The Qur'anic View Again |
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72 | (5) |
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75 | (2) |
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6 On Value of Knowledge and Understanding |
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77 | (22) |
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77 | (1) |
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6.2 Some Related Distinctions in the Qur'an |
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78 | (2) |
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80 | (1) |
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6.4 Reliabilist and Zagzebskian Approaches to the Value Problem |
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81 | (8) |
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6.5 Pritchard on the Value of Knowledge and Understanding |
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89 | (5) |
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6.6 Kvanvig on Distinctive Value of Knowledge and Understanding |
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94 | (2) |
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96 | (3) |
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97 | (2) |
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7 Concept of Wisdom in the Qur'an |
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99 | (8) |
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99 | (1) |
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99 | (1) |
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7.3 Hik'mat in the Qur'an |
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100 | (2) |
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7.4 Elaboration of the Qur'anic Position Through Ancient and Contemporary Writers |
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102 | (5) |
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106 | (1) |
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107 | (4) |
| Appendix: Some Basic Knowledge Related Concepts in the Qur'an |
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111 | (8) |
| Bibliography |
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119 | (10) |
| Index |
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129 | |
Former Vice Chancellor of Hazara University in Pakistan, M. Ashraf Adeel is Professor of Philosophy at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. He earned his PhD in Philosophy of Science/Language with distinction from University of Hawaii, has held Professorship at University of Peshawar, and was a Senior Visiting Fellow at Linacre College Oxford in 1999. He publishes research in Philosophy of Science and Language as well as Modern Islamic Thought and is a poet and playwright.
