Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: 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.
Source: Open Theology
Author: Muhammad Sami
Institution: University of Oxford
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,356
OpenAlex ID: W4412449275