Ghazali's Epistemology: A Critical Study of Doubt and Certainty

This book explores the epistemology of Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī, focusing on his views on doubt and certainty. It examines his approach to philosophical demonstration and Sufism, and his methodological skepticism, foundationalism, and attitude towards authoritative instruction. It provides a systematic and comprehensive approach to Ghazālī's epistemology, making it a valuable resource for scholars of Islamic philosophy and Sufism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 17 November 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Focusing on Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī (d. 1111) – one of the foremost scholars and authorities in the Muslim world who is central to the Islamic intellectual tradition – this book embarks on a study of doubt (shakk) and certainty (yaqīn) in his epistemology.

The book looks at Ghazālī’s attitude to philosophical demonstration and Sufism as a means to certainty. In early scholarship surrounding Ghazālī, he has often been blamed as the one who single-handedly offered the death-blow to philosophy in the Muslim world. In much of contemporary scholarship, Ghazālī is understood to prefer philosophy as the ultimate means to certainty, granting Sufism a secondary status. Hence, much of previous scholarship has either focused on Ghazālī as a Sufi or as a philosopher; this book takes a parallel approach, and acknowledges each discipline in its right place. It analyses Ghazālī’s approach to acquiring certainty, his methodological scepticism, his foundationalism, his attitude to authoritative instruction (taʿlim), and the place of philosophical demonstration and Sufism in his epistemology.

Offering a systematic and comprehensive approach to Ghazālī’s epistemology, this book is a valuable resource for scholars of Islamic philosophy and Sufism in particular, and for educated readers of Islamic studies in general.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032517063