The Intended Meaning
Nationalism here is understood as a bond based on language, tongue, and thinking among a rational group. It is not merely a formal affiliation, but a tie that brings people together in their shared awareness and expression.
The Atom’s Structure in the Atlas
- Type of argument: definitional
- Argument movement: defines nationalism as a bond of language and thought among a rational group.
- Central terms: nationalism, language, tongue, thinking.
- Degree of centrality: pivotal.
It moves nationalism from the ethnic sphere to the cultural-intellectual sphere, making tongue and thinking the basis of common belonging among an aware group.
Links that help with reading
- Muhammad Shahrur Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism
- The Civil State, Religion, and Authority
- Nationalism
Basis
- Supporting text: «Nationalism: a bond of language, tongue, and thinking among a rational group».
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 reading: the formulation above is an analytical summary, and is not treated as a verbatim quotation unless the witness is transmitted verbatim.
Editorial note
The atom is a normative definition of national belonging.