From Knowledge to Worldview: The Conceptual Debate Between the Qur’an and the Contemporary West

The Centre for Arab Unity Studies published the book From Knowledge to Worldview: The Conceptual Debate Between the Qur’an and the Contemporary West by Dr. Ismail Shatti.

This book belongs to the fields of comparative philosophy and the analysis of worldviews; it examines the epistemological and metaphysical foundations that shape the human conception of existence, knowledge, and purpose. The book proceeds from the premise that civilizational differences stem not merely from variations in practices and institutions, but from a deeper divergence in worldviews—perspectives that define how humans understand the Creator, the universe, life, and humanity itself, while guiding the creation of knowledge, values, and meaning. Accordingly, the book is organized into two complementary parts: the first addresses the structure, sources, and levels of human knowledge—examining innate, societal, rational, and divine knowledge—while tracing key philosophical, religious, and scientific perspectives on these sources from both historical and contemporary standpoints. The second part explores the structure of the worldview, covering its concept, foundations, and relationship to metaphysics; it then presents the Quranic worldview and the modern Western worldview as distinct paradigms for interpreting existence, comparing their respective conceptions of creation, the cosmos, humanity, and life, and tracing their impact on consciousness, history, and human civilization. The book does not aim to compare two creeds or cultures in the traditional sense; rather, it seeks to reveal the internal logic governing each worldview and to show how its metaphysical and epistemological conceptions transform into systems of thought, values, politics, science, and art. Through this approach, the book strives to contribute to a deeper understanding of a contemporary civilizational question: How are worldviews formed, and how do they shape the destiny of societies and humanity?