What is meant
Shahrur sees the history of societies as moving from singularity and authoritarianism toward pluralism and the civil state. Pluralism, in his view, is the foundation that guarantees the development of the state and its continuity, whereas a singular system carries within itself the causes of its own demise.
The atom’s structure in the atlas
- Type of argument: Historical
- Argument movement: It sees history as a transition from singularity to pluralism and the civil state.
- Key terms: history, pluralism, civil state, authoritarianism.
- Degree of centrality: Primary.
The atom presents a progressive historical trajectory in which singularity recedes in favor of pluralism, and the civil state becomes the culmination of this transformation, with plurality regarded as a condition for continuity.
Links that help with reading
- Muhammad Shahrur: The State and Society
- History, Development, and Sunnas
- History
- Pluralism
- The Civil State
Grounding
- Supporting text: “The history of societies, in his view, is a transition from singularity and authoritarianism to pluralism and the civil state. Pluralism is the basis of the state’s development, whereas every singular system carries within itself the seeds of its own demise.”
Degree of documentation
- Level: Directly documented
- Meaning of the level: The atom relies on an explicit witness close to the wording of the claim.
- Limits of the reading: The wording above is an analytical summary, and should not be treated as a verbatim quotation unless the witness is quoted word for word.
Its function in the book
Its function here is argumentative; it supports a larger conclusion in the chapter or prepares for it.
Related to
Editorial note
An original atom, because it places the direction of history within Shahrur’s vision.