The Idea
The claim understands the inner and the outer as both a linguistic and a psychological relation, not merely as a fixed division between a hidden meaning and an explicit one. In this view, words derive their significance not only from their outward form, but also from their effect on the recipient and from the relationship that arises between what is said and what is understood. Reading therefore becomes an inquiry into the way meaning is produced and received.
Concise Formulation
The inner and the outer: they rest on a psychological-linguistic relation
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This statement lies at the heart of the book’s concern with language and meaning within Islamic thought. It does not present the binary as an already given truth, but as a structure whose history and function need to be understood. In this way, the claim aligns with Arkoun’s broader argument: religious concepts cannot be understood from their outward form alone, but from the conditions that produced them.
Why It Matters
The importance of this claim is that it moves the reader away from a literal approach to terms and toward a more composite one. It shows that the inner and the outer are not simply a straightforward opposition, but a way of constructing religious discourse itself. From here, it helps explain Arkoun’s tendency to reread common concepts without merely repeating them.
Reading Questions
- What does it add to describe the inner and the outer as a linguistic-psychological relation?
- How does this understanding change the way religious texts are read in the book?
Degree of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear place within the book’s material.