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Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies Seminar (IISS). Al-Ghazālī and the Foundations of Medieval Islamic Ontology, Epistemology, and Scientific Inquiry

Mohammad Alhawary, Professor of Arabic Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
5:30-7:00 PM
555 Weiser Hall Map
Medieval Muslim scientists trace most of their foundational ontological and epistemological underpinnings to Al-Ghazālī’s (1058-1111 CE) contribution in bridging the gap between scholastic theology (kalām) and scientific inquiry and experimentation. In doing so, Al-Ghazālī draws on two related subdomains: philology and exegesis. This talk sheds some light on Al-Ghazālī's holistic rational view which informed Medieval Islamic ontology, epistemology, and the scientific method, falling at the nexus of language, scholastic theology, Qur’anic hermeneutics, and the philosophy of science. Al-Ghazālī’s thought has implications for positivism and post-positivism, including the rejection of the behavioral psychology view of knowing and learning through mere habituation.

Mohammad T. Alhawary is Professor of Arabic Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition. In addition to his research in applied linguistics, his interests lie in the Medieval Arabic grammatical tradition and its interactions with neighboring disciplines such as exegesis, jurisprudence, philosophy, and scholastic theology.

If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation to attend this event, please reach out to IslamicStudies@umich.edu at least 2 weeks in advance of this event. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
Building: Weiser Hall
Event Type: Lecture / Discussion
Tags: History, International, Middle East Studies, Muslim
Source: Happening @ Michigan from Global Islamic Studies Center, Department of Middle East Studies, International Institute

The Global Islamic Studies Center organizes a number of public events each year such as lectures, conferences, and films, many in collaboration with other U-M units. Please use our searchable events calendar for information about upcoming programs sponsored by GISC and the Interdisciplinary Islamic Studies Seminar (IISS).