The Improvement of Human Reason: Exhibited in the Life of Hai Ebn YokdhanIbn Tufayl, Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Malik
Islamic
The Improvement of Human Reason: Exhibited in the Life of Hai Ebn Yokdhan
Ibn Tufayl, Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Malik
Islamic philosophy -- Early works to 1800
Sec. 19. I have now shewn that what is here held by our Author, and too
many others in our times, has no manner of Foundation. That it was never
promis'd nor expected, either under the Mosaical or Christian
Dispensation; from whence I have inferr'd, that it cannot be expected
any where else, and consequently that there is no such thing at all. If
I have not spoken all the while particularly to my Author, the reason
is, because I write to Christians, and chiefly have regard to those
Errors, held by some of that Denomination, which are common with those
of our Author. Besides, if that were requisite, 'tis only allowing for
Argument sake, that the _Alcoran_ was written by Inspiration, and that
_Mahomet_ was a Prophet, and then the same way of Arguing proves the
Enthusiasm of our Author, who being a profess'd _Mahometan_, and they
being oblig'd to believe that _Mahomet_ is the _Catimo'l anbyai_, i.e.
_The Seal of the Prophets_, and that theirs is the last Dispensation,
which Mankind shall ever receive from God, has ventured to suppose the
Possibility of a Man's attaining to the true Knowledge of God, and
Things necessary to Salvation, and all other Things, both Spiritual and
Natural, belonging either to this World, or that to come, without the
Help of any outward Instruction.
Sec. 20. I need not insist upon this any longer; I shall only remark, that
as true Piety is the same in all Ages and Climates, and good solid Sense
too, so also is _Enthusiasm._ And I have sometimes wonder'd, when I have
read the Whimsies and Conceits of the _Arab_ Enthusiasts (whose numerous
Sects equal those Heresies mention'd by _Epiphanius_, or even that
plentiful Crop which the Devil has sow'd of them in our times) to find
such a Harmony between them and ours at present. Such a perfect
Agreement in their wild Notions, and these express'd in the very
self-same Cant, may easily convince any one, that the Instruments of
both were strung and tun'd by the same Hand. Another thing observable is
this; Let the _Enthusiast_ have never such great Abilities, there is
always something or other which proves his Pretensions to Revelation to
be false; and as they tell us, that, let the Devil change himself into
what Shape he will he can never conceal his Cloven Foot; so neither can
the _Enthusiast_ make himself pass for Inspired, with any Person of
tolerable discerning; but there will appear some very considerable Flaw,
which shall manifestly prove him a Deceiver, or at least a Person
deceiv'd. This is the Fate of them, and our Author could not avoid it.
He has indeed carried his Philosopher beyond the Orb of _Saturn_[46],
but he might as well have sav'd him that Trouble; for he brought nothing
down with him, but what he himself was able to furnish him withal before
he went; _viz. Mahometan Divinity_, and _Aristotelian Philosophy_. As to
the former of these I shall not need to say any thing; but I am well
assur'd, that when he talk'd of those Discoveries in the latter, made by
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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