Falsehood Is Illusion, Not Merely Error
Editorial verification status: This atom has been extracted from an explanatory audio-visual source and is now linked to the nearest books within the Shahrur project at the book level. For precise academic quotation, consult the original book and the original episode together.
Formulation of the claim
Shahrur distinguishes between falsehood and error; for him, falsehood is illusion, whereas error lies in the application of truth or in part of it.
Explanation
He clarifies that “falsehood” for him is not merely incorrectness, but a false mental or social structure. Thus an act can be erroneous without being false, whereas falsehood consists in placing people within a complete illusion. He therefore uses examples such as illusory transactions and the belief in things that neither benefit nor harm. In this way, he makes falsehood the counterpart of objective truth, not of partial correctness alone.
Its place in the episode’s argument
This atom is essential for understanding his “struggle of the Most Merciful and Satan”: the struggle between truth and illusion.
Limits of the claim
It does not deny that falsehood has practical consequences, but it defines its essence as illusion.
Brief witness
“Falsehood is illusion… not error.”
Nearby links
- Shahrur - testimony
- Shahrur - the Qur’an
- Atom: Satan against objective truth, not against morality