New ideas for the reconstruction of social sciences based on the sources of Islamic thought
Mahdi Hosseinzadeh Yazdi
Abstract
What we call science encompasses various contexts. The distinction between Islamic and Western social sciences shows itself in various contexts of science. To fully comprehend these differences, it is essential to systematically examine all scientific contexts, as neglecting any area can hinder the recognition ...
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What we call science encompasses various contexts. The distinction between Islamic and Western social sciences shows itself in various contexts of science. To fully comprehend these differences, it is essential to systematically examine all scientific contexts, as neglecting any area can hinder the recognition of these distinctions and obstruct alternative frameworks for scientific development. In the realm of social sciences, at least 12 contexts can be identified through reflection and induction: description, discovery, justification (methodology), hypothesis acceptance, understanding, explanation, prediction, object of study, application, normativity, and concepts. This article focuses specifically on the conceptual context to explore the differences between Islamic and Western social sciences in this domain. The findings suggest that the divergence in conceptual approaches stems from foundational differences in worldview. Concepts serve as lenses through which the world is understood, and each scientific tradition organizes its theories and representations of reality based on these conceptual frameworks. In Islamic social sciences, concepts are not reconstructed; rather, they are imbued with intrinsic value rooted in Islamic Thought. Understanding these concepts in contrast to their Western counterparts necessitates Ijtihad (independent reasoning), as the process involves uncovering meanings that align with Islamic principles.
