Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī (d. 606/1210) makes a claim in some of his works that "textual evidence gives uncertain information epistemologically". While justifying this claim, which he has expressed in many of his works, he mentions some premises. These premises deal with a few aspects such as the nature of language, its transmission, its use, and what is non-linguistic. One of the most important of these premises is the following proposition about a non-linguistic issue: “There is a possibility that there is rational evidence that is opposed to textual evidence”. In other words, no matter which textual evidence we consider, there is always the possibility of rational evidence expressing its exact opposite. Why should the existence of such a possibility prevent the textual evidence from expressing certain information? We can answer this question as follows: The relevant premise is based on the fact that reason and rational evidence give certainty. Namely, in case textual evidence conflicts with rational evidence, either (i) rational evidence is accepted and the textual evidence is rejected, or (ii) textual evidence is accepted and rational evidence is rejected or (iii) both are accepted or (iv) none is accepted. The last two possibilities are not possible because it is impossible for the contradictions to coexist or be negated at the same time. Since the reason is the origin of the naql and rational evidence gives certainty, textual evidence cannot be accepted and rational evidence cannot be rejected. So, rational evidence is accepted and textual evidence is rejected or interpreted. In order to justify the uncertainty of the textual evidence, whenever Rāzī mentions this premise, he mentions the four possibilities above, and eliminates the other three, except the first, by putting forward the aforementioned reasons, and argues that in such cases there is no option other than the first possibility. As a result, the certainty of the textual evidence disappears. In addition to this discourse, an opposite discourse is attributed to Rāzī regarding the certainty that reason and rational evidence can reach.
Kalām Fakhr al-Dīn er-Rāzī Rational Evidence Certainty Uncertainty.
Birincil Dil | Türkçe |
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Bölüm | Makaleler |
Yazarlar | |
Yayımlanma Tarihi | 15 Aralık 2022 |
Yayımlandığı Sayı | Yıl 2022 Cilt: 24 Sayı: 46 |
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