The Satanic Mind Produces Illusion and Myth

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Intended Meaning

The satanic mind is illusory knowledge that conflates phenomena, thereby producing myth and unscientific interpretation. It is presented here as the opposite of the merciful mind, which is grounded in the apprehension of laws.

The Atom’s Structure in the Atlas

  • Type of argument: Critical
  • Movement of the argument: It describes the satanic mind as the source of myth and unscientific interpretation.
  • Key terms: satanic mind, illusion, myth, unscientific interpretation.
  • Degree of centrality: Central.

It performs an explicit critical function by stripping legitimacy from illusory interpretation, and supports the distinction between disciplined knowledge and unscientific discourse.

Grounding

  • Supporting text: “The satanic mind: illusory knowledge that conflates phenomena and produces myth and unscientific interpretation.”

Location of the Grounding in the Book

  • Book: The Book and the Qur’an.
  • Location: In the early parts of the book, within the discussion of patterns of thought and language.
  • Type of grounding: Close witness.
  • Mark that helps verification: perception of the particularized
  • Reading note: This passage is suitable as evidence because it speaks about particularized perception and uncritical looking, which is close to the meaning of illusion and myth attributed to the satanic mind.

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 is not treated as a verbatim quotation unless the witness is quoted word for word.

Its Function in the Book

Its function here is definitional; it fixes a meaning or conceptual distinction on which Shahrur relies in constructing the idea.

Editorial Note

This atom functions as a counterpart to the previous atom.

Graph View

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Muhammad Shahrur Atlas