Philosophy for Muslims II: Introduction to Western Philosophy
Clear tools for truth, argument, reality, morality, and modern ideologies. Study philosophy in a Muslim-friendly environment, focused on the elements most relevant to Muslims.
Ustadh Reece Byfield
BA Philosophy (First Class), King's College London. MPhil Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion, University of Cambridge. Studying 'Alimiyyah at al-Salam Institute under Shaykh Akram Nadwi. Holds ijazat in various texts.
Course Overview
Study philosophy in a Muslim-friendly environment. An easy introduction to Western philosophy, focused on the elements most relevant to Muslims. Recording included for registered students.
Syllabus
Week 1 Epistemology I — What is Knowledge?
What counts as knowledge and where does it come from? We examine the classical sources of knowledge and how they relate to Islamic epistemology.
Epistemology I — What is Knowledge?
What counts as knowledge and where does it come from? We examine the classical sources of knowledge and how they relate to Islamic epistemology.
- Defining knowledge: justified true belief and its problems
- Sources of knowledge: reason, experience, testimony, intuition
- How Islamic epistemology compares
Week 2 Epistemology II — Relativism & Circularity
Can we really know anything? We tackle the challenges of relativism, scepticism, and circular reasoning — and how Muslims can respond.
Epistemology II — Relativism & Circularity
Can we really know anything? We tackle the challenges of relativism, scepticism, and circular reasoning — and how Muslims can respond.
- Relativism: is truth just perspective?
- The problem of circularity in justification
- Responding to scepticism from an Islamic framework
Week 3 Logic — Organising Thoughts & Arguments
The basic tools of reasoning: how to structure arguments, spot fallacies, and think clearly about contested questions.
Logic — Organising Thoughts & Arguments
The basic tools of reasoning: how to structure arguments, spot fallacies, and think clearly about contested questions.
- Deductive and inductive reasoning
- Common logical fallacies
- Building and evaluating arguments
Week 4 Metaphysics — Necessity & Possibility
The distinction between what must exist and what merely happens to exist. Core concepts that underpin the proofs for God's existence.
Metaphysics — Necessity & Possibility
The distinction between what must exist and what merely happens to exist. Core concepts that underpin the proofs for God's existence.
- Necessary vs. contingent existence
- Causation and explanation
- Why these concepts matter for theology
Week 5 Ethics — The Nature of Moral Disagreement
Where do moral values come from? We survey the major ethical theories and examine how Muslims can navigate moral disagreements.
Ethics — The Nature of Moral Disagreement
Where do moral values come from? We survey the major ethical theories and examine how Muslims can navigate moral disagreements.
- Divine command theory, natural law, and virtue ethics
- Consequentialism and deontology
- Moral realism vs. moral relativism
Week 6 Political Philosophy — Liberalism & Feminism
The ideas that shape the modern political landscape. We examine liberalism, feminism, and secularism — and how Muslims can engage critically.
Political Philosophy — Liberalism & Feminism
The ideas that shape the modern political landscape. We examine liberalism, feminism, and secularism — and how Muslims can engage critically.
- Core principles of liberalism and individual rights
- Feminist thought: key waves and claims
- Secularism and the public-private distinction
- Critical Muslim engagement with modern ideologies