Meaning
Shahrur links human desires to the historical structure of human development, rather than treating them as merely separate individual inclinations. He also connects their understanding to the economic and legislative system; that is, they are part of the organization of social life, not outside it.
Structure of the Atom in the Atlas
- Type of argument: historical.
- Movement of the argument: places desires within the course of human development.
- Central terms: desires, human development, the economic system, the legislative system.
- Degree of centrality: secondary.
The atom presents desires as an organizing element in human history, not an isolated inclination, and links their understanding to the structure of society and its laws.
Links That Aid Reading
Evidence
- Supporting text: “Shahrur links the understanding of human desires to the economic and legislative system.”
Location of the Evidence in the Book
- Book: the Book and the Qur’an.
- Location: within the final section of the book, in the discussion of desires and their development.
- Type of evidence: proximate witness.
- Verification marker: human desires.
- Reading note: this passage is suitable evidence because it mentions the development of human desires and places them within a framework of continuous change.
Degree of Documentation
- Level: directly documented.
- Meaning of the level: the atom rests on an explicit witness close to the wording of the claim.
- Limits of reading: the wording above is an analytical summary and should not be treated as a verbatim quotation unless the witness is quoted directly.
Its Function in the Book
Its function here is argumentative: it supports a larger conclusion in the chapter or prepares the way for it.
Links
- desires
Note to the Reader
The atom explains the phenomenon within the patterns of social transformation.