This page explains a conceptual relationship between two terms within Shahrur’s thought, and how this relationship functions in the construction of meaning.

Meaning of the Relationship

This relationship indicates that the concept of the people is not an isolated or simple concept, but rather a broader framework that contains within it two dimensions: nationality and the nation. Thus, the people are understood as the encompassing category within which these social and political significations develop, not as merely a numerical aggregation of individuals.

The Two Terms of the Relationship

  • First term: the people
  • Relationship: includes
  • Second term: nationality and the nation

Evidence

Its Effect on the Cognitive Map

This relationship gains its importance because it connects levels of collective identity within the conceptual map, and clarifies that nationality and the nation are not concepts isolated from the people but subsumed within them. This helps build a more coherent understanding of the social and political structure, and reveals how concepts of belonging are interconnected within the field of state and society.