Description:

The contemporary world is faced with different and contradicting ideologies. Some of these ideologies may have caused bitter divisions in society, class divisions, and possibly war and bloodshed throughout history. The question that always comes to mind is: what is the reason for the difference in ideologies? Why does one group defend a particular ideology while another
does the group support another ideology?

The answer is that the differences between ideologies are due to differences in worldviews. In other words, differences in worldviews lead to differences in ideologies. A worldview is an interpretation and analysis of existence, the world, man, society, and history. Ideologies then, are the offspring of worldviews.

This begs further questions: why are there different worldviews? Where do the differences in worldviews come from? Why does one group follow a materialistic worldview and the other group a theistic worldview?

The answer to these questions can be attributed to the point that these two groups have different understandings of the world. In other words, epistemological issues give rise to different worldviews.

This is why epistemological issues become particularly important and demonstrate that the root cause of differences in worldviews and, consequently, ideologies, are epistemological issues.

Furthermore, human beings have different attitudes towards the world of creation based on which they form their beliefs and convictions. These perspectives can be divided into three categories. Some people study the world solely from the perspective of modern empirical science and establish their worldviews accordingly. Another group considers experimentation as an inadequate tool for acquiring knowledge of the world and thus attempts to reach the truth about the world through intellect and wisdom. The third group does not regard intellect and experimentation as sufficient tools; instead, they try to appreciate the reality of the world via the tool of revelation.

The sum of the beliefs and insights of each group forms their “worldview”. Truth and its cognition have been important preoccupations of man throughout the course of human history. There are many significant questions about reality that have engaged the minds of thinkers from the past. Some of them are as follows:

• Is there an independent reality beyond the human mind?

• If so, can that reality be conceived?

• If so, can we describe it to others?

• If we suppose that man can gain an understanding of the reality of the world, by what tools can he acquire that reality?

• How efficient is each of these tools?

• What are the sources of cognition?

• What are the criteria for distinguishing true cognition from false cognition?

• What obstacles can prevent man from correctly acquiring the truths of the world and thus lead him astray?

On one hand, a worldview forms the basis of man’s intellectual thoughts, whereas his actions and behaviour, known as an ideology, are derived from his beliefs. On the other hand, our worldview is also dependent on our views on “cognition”. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the different worldviews and identify their strengths and weaknesses. The issue of
“cognition” and the various relevant theories must also be carefully considered.

This book is compiled under the title of “Worldview and the Theory of Knowledge” to undertake this important task. An attempt has been made to present the views of the Qur’an and narrations on the aforementioned topics in a structured and logical manner. Moreover, this humble work tries to examine the perspectives of other schools of thought and analyses them. Hence, this book consists of two parts. In the first part, it deals with the issues of worldview and ideology and their relationship, whilst the second part addresses the issues of epistemology.