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Spiritual_Roadmap_by_Ghazali, page : 43
what is defective in any science unless he has such a complete grasp of that science that he equals
its
most learned promoter in the appreciation of its fundamental principles, and then goes beyond to
surpass
them, by probing into the tangles and profundities which the very professors of the science have
neglected.
Then and only then, is it possible that what he has to say about its defects is true.
So far as I could see none of the scholars of Islam had devoted thought and attention to philosophy.
None of the theologians engaged in discussion with the philosophers, apart from obscure
and scattered
utterances so plainly erroneous and inconsistent that no person of ordinary intelligence would be
deceived,
much less one versed in the sciences.
I realized that to refute a system before understanding it and becoming acquainted with its depths
is to
act blindly. I therefore set out in all seriousness, to acquire a knowledge of philosophy from
books and by
its
most learned promoter in the appreciation of its fundamental principles, and then goes beyond to
surpass
them, by probing into the tangles and profundities which the very professors of the science have
neglected.
Then and only then, is it possible that what he has to say about its defects is true.
So far as I could see none of the scholars of Islam had devoted thought and attention to philosophy.
None of the theologians engaged in discussion with the philosophers, apart from obscure
and scattered
utterances so plainly erroneous and inconsistent that no person of ordinary intelligence would be
deceived,
much less one versed in the sciences.
I realized that to refute a system before understanding it and becoming acquainted with its depths
is to
act blindly. I therefore set out in all seriousness, to acquire a knowledge of philosophy from
books and by