The Idea
This paragraph holds that the human aim is fulfilled only by refining and purifying reason, not by knowledge alone and not by power alone. Reason here is not merely a calculating machine, but a faculty that requires moral and intellectual discipline in order to become capable of discernment and sound judgment. Thus, the human aim here is linked to a long process of inner reform, not to a quick accomplishment or a theoretical slogan.
Concise Formulation
The human aim: the refinement and purification of reason through education and moderation
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim occupies a central place in the book’s structure because it summarizes the human dimension around which many of Arkoun’s theses revolve. It presents reason as a field of work, education, and purification, not merely as a neutral cognitive tool. The book therefore links understanding with moral growth and makes the human aim part of a broader project of self-formation.
Why It Matters
Its importance lies in the fact that it shows that Arkoun does not separate thinking from discipline, nor knowledge from responsibility. This helps read his project as a defense of the human being in their capacity for self-formation. It also shows that reason, for him, is a practical and moral value, not only an abstract concept.
Reading Questions
- What does it mean to purify reason: is it controlling knowledge, disciplining conduct, or both?
- How does the image of the human change when the refinement of reason becomes its fundamental aim?
Brief Evidence
This paragraph holds that the human aim is fulfilled only by refining and purifying reason, not by knowledge alone and not by power alone. Reason here is not merely a calculating machine, but a faculty that requires moral and intellectual discipline in order to become capable of discernment and sound judgment. Thus, the human aim here is linked to a long process of inner reform, not to a quick accomplishment or a theoretical slogan.