Comparative Epistemology – The Islamic College

Dear all,

Salaam

In this foundational module, we will, God willing, explore some of the major issues related to epistemology and comparative epistemology. Following an introductory session in which the
scope and aims of the course will be outlined, each subsequent session will examine the views of selected Western and/or Muslim philosophers on key epistemic questions.

Throughout the module, I will aim to combine historical exposition with critical assessment.

We will begin with the Pre-Socratic philosophers and trace the development of epistemological discussions through to the present day.

Each session will last two hours. Time permitting, I will allocate up to 30 minutes at the end of each session for questions and discussion. If time does not allow for a Q&A segment in a particular session, you are welcome to email your questions, which I will address either in writing or in subsequent lectures.

This module is offered both as part of an MA-equivalent programme and as a stand-alone course. Students enrolled in the MA-equivalent programme are required to submit a final essay of 2,000 words as a means of assessing their progress. There is no single set textbook for this course. Instead, I will introduce relevant readings in advance of each session. For the first session, you may wish to consult the following references:

• Ali Paya (ed.) (2014), The Misty Land of Ideas and the Light of Dialogue: An Anthology of Comparative Philosophy – Western & Islamic, 2nd edn., London: ICAS Press.
• Duncan Pritchard (2014), What Is This Thing Called Knowledge?, 3rd edn., London: Routledge.

I hope you enjoy your experience in this module and find it both engaging and worthwhile by the end of the course.

Professor Ali Paya