Al-Daleel

The study presents a comparative philosophical analysis of Avicenna and Immanuel Kant\'s conceptions of reason and its epistemological boundaries, with particular attention to its cognitive function and its relationship to metaphysics. While both thinkers affirm the foundational role of reason in the acquisition of knowledge, their distinct intellectual milieus yield divergent interpretations of its scope and epistemic potential. Avicenna posits a hierarchical development of reason culminating in its union with the Active Intellect, thereby enabling access to transcendent intelligibles and the formulation of metaphysical knowledge in its comprehensive sense-from the nature of prime matter to the demonstration of the Necessary Existent. In contrast, Kant imposes rigorous epistemological constraints on human reason, limiting its function to the structuring of sensory data via a priori categories and denying it access to the noumenal realm, or the \"thing-in-itself\". Employing an analytical rational methodology, this inquiry concludes that Avicenna\'s framework supports a metaphysical conception of reason - one that harmonizes reason with metaphysics and permits transcendence beyond empirical phenomena; whereas Kant\'s critical philosophy confines reason within the parameters of possible experience. This contrast reconfigures the philosophical understanding of reason, knowledge, and existence in both systems. Ultimately, the comparison enriches epistemological discourse and invites renewed reflection on the role of metaphysics in contemporary philosophical thought.

This study investigates myth as a formative mode of thought, examining how it developed into a distinct intellectual framework through which human beings sought to articulate responses to fundamental existential questions. Myth provided a means of transcending the surface of phenomena in search of hidden causes, enabling a transition from mere wonder to interpretive explanation. Far from being products of pure imagination, myths often reflect elements of lived reality. The study identifies two principal factors underlying the rise of mythological thinking: the absence of rational or scriptural explanations of existence, and the predominance of materialist modes of reasoning. Employing descriptive, analytical, and inferential methodologies, the study explores the relationship between myth and belief, as well as the intersections between mythological and religious thought. The findings show that ancient civilizations-and indeed many societies today-continue to rely significantly on mythological frameworks in their reflections on existence, origin, and destiny. Some myths exhibit affinities with certain religious and historical truths, while others emerge from imagination or as reactions to social, cosmic, or existential concerns. Yet, this phenomenon does not warrant the claim that the Qur\'an is myth or mere human speculation about the transcendent. The study concludes that the mythological mode of thought has left a profound and enduring influence on human intellectual history, shaping patterns of reflection in both ancient and modern contexts.

This study examines the nature and defining features of secular ethical thought by outlining its foundations and principal theories, while subjecting them to critical evaluation from the standpoint of Islamic ethical principles. The aim is to review their limitations and to demonstrate the distinctive strengths of the Islamic moral framework. Employing a descriptive, analytical, and critical methodology, the research engages with key secular philosophical texts and compares their claims with authoritative Islamic sources, including the Qur\'an, the Sunnah, and the intellectual heritage of the Islamic tradition.
The findings reveal that secular ethics is characterized by flexibility and an appeal to human reason-as exemplified by Kantian ethics, which is considered secular insofar as it grounds morality exclusively in rational autonomy rather than divine revelation, despite its rigorous emphasis on obligations. However, secular ethics faces serious challenges, including the absence of a transcendent moral reference point, the weakness of moral obligation, and value relativism. In contrast, Islamic ethics presents a comprehensive moral vision that harmonizes reason and revelation, balances individual and communal responsibilities, and offers constructive avenues for developing a contemporary Islamic ethical paradigm. Such a paradigm is capable of addressing modern challenges, particularly by fostering dialogue between tradition and modernity, and by contributing to the articulation of a universal ethic inspired by Islam.

In the contemporary era, given the tremendous pace of technological advancement and its direct impact on human life, there is a greater need than ever to examine the various dimensions of technology from a religious perspective and to guide its development toward the perfection of humanity. Within this context, artificial intelligence (AI) has penetrated numerous domains of industry and achieved astonishing accomplishments. This has led some specialists in the field to suggest that AI is not limited to performing intelligent, human-like behaviors, but may also acquire the mental attributes and psychological states of human beings-such as knowledge, will, thought, and emotions. On this view, AI could ultimately surpass the human mind, potentially resulting in a future where human beings are governed and dominated by machines. This perspective is summarized in the theory of superintelligent AI, which has sparked intense debates in philosophical and theological circles. It is evident, however, that such a view stands in sharp contrast to the religious and Quranic conception of the human being and his existential dimensions. Accordingly, this article, employing a descriptive and analytical methodology, examines the foundational principles of the theory of miraculous AI and compares them with the Quranic understanding of human nature, capacities, and existential dimensions. The aim is to evaluate, from a Quranic perspective, the possibility of realizing the claims of miraculous AI theory.

This study explores the philosophy of education in ancient Greece by outlining its theoretical foundations, key principles, and major representatives, with a particular focus on the orientations, distinctive features, and enduring influence of Socrates educational philosophy. The research adopts a tripartite methodological framework: inductive, descriptive, and analytical, drawing upon classical philosophical texts to illuminate the role of education in Greek thought. The findings reveal that education held a central place in the reflections of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, achieving a level of systematic theorization that gave rise to two distinct educational traditions: the Spartan and the Athenian. Through their contributions, Greek education articulated its essential aims, namely the holistic development of the individual in physical, intellectual, spiritual, and technical dimensions. Socrates, in particular, stands at the forefront of this intellectual legacy. He conceived philosophy and education as inseparably intertwined, if not identical. For him, philosophy represented the perfection of knowledge for the perfection of action, while education was concerned with cultivating the human being in relation to morals, customs, and social life, seeking his happiness and flourishing through knowledge of his true nature rather than conformity to prevailing convention. The ultimate goal of education, in Socratic thought, is to shape the soul according to truth, goodness, and beauty, and to build a more virtuous society through the transformative power of education-enabling individuals to recognize their inherently good essence and orienting them toward the pursuit of moral excellence.

The adoption of an Occidentalist approach by enlightened intellectuals has led them to adopt the Western model of human rights as the primary reference and foundation for their perspectives and practices in this domain. Accordingly, they advocate interpreting religion in a manner that aligns with this framework. Among the most prominent of these thinkers is Dr. Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari, whose works exemplify a steadfast commitment to this approach. He argues that strict adherence to Shariah as a fixed legal system irrespective of the specific Islamic school of thought fosters conditions conducive to violence and the emergence of extremist groups. Shabestari contends that the sole means of preventing such radical tendencies lies in embracing the Western human rights framework, asserting that this approach not only mitigates wars and bloodshed, but also provides Muslims with an opportunity to advance the flourishing of Islam in the contemporary world. This article critically evaluates Shabestaris claims using a rational-analytical methodology alongside a review of the Quran and authoritative Islamic sources. We demonstrate that the Western conception of human rights is inadequate for preventing wars and bloodshed and refute Shabestaris claim regarding the incompatibility of Islamic jurisprudence with human rights. On the contrary, our analysis highlights the superiority of Islamic rights principles in securing substantive human entitlements compared to the Western model.

This study examines the distinction between the sacred and the secular in religion, employing the analytical sociological framework advanced by the French scholar Émile Durkheim. It highlights the pivotal role of this distinction in shaping individuals and groups conception of the sacred within societies, mediated through the moral conscience developed via socialization within both the group and society at large. The study further explores the application of the sacred-secular distinction in the context of contemporary social life. Using a descriptive-analytical methodology to interpret Durkheims perspectives, the study demonstrates that religion, by differentiating the sacred from the secular, generates a formidable force that reinforces social cohesion and collective consciousness. Society embodies a collective conscience encompassing the shared rules, norms, and values of its members. Moral conscience is not innate but emerges through socialization, with society serving as the primary source of ethical principles; individuals acquire their moral standards through ongoing social interaction. Additionally, the study contends that secularism seeks to emancipate humans from religious sacredness, to desacralize human existence, and to promote a materialist worldview governed by material values and norms.