The Idea
The text states that some Orientalists do not stand outside the perspective under discussion; rather, they help sustain it. This means that the image being presented is not the product of a single discourse alone, but one in which multiple readings intersect and may influence one another. The statement thus suggests that the problem of representations of Islam is broader than the limits of any one position, and that it is fed from more than one source.
Concise Formulation
Some Orientalists: contribute to sustaining this perspective
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim appears at a point that broadens the scope of critique within the book. Instead of directing attention to one side only, it shows that certain Western discourses participate in fixing a particular image of Islam or its history. The claim therefore functions as a link between criticism of the prevailing perspective and criticism of its various sources, including those that appear scholarly or academic.
Why It Matters
Its importance lies in preventing the reader from reducing the debate to a simple confrontation between East and West. It also reveals that Arkoun is concerned with the structure of knowledge itself and with how it produces recurring images of Islam. This makes the critical reading broader than merely rejecting others, because it turns toward examining the modes of representation and interpretation.
Brief Evidence
The text states that some Orientalists do not stand outside the perspective under discussion; rather, they help sustain it. This means that the image being presented is not the product of a single discourse alone, but one in which multiple readings intersect and may influence one another. The statement thus suggests that the problem of representations of Islam is broader than the limits of any one position, and that it is fed from more than one source.
Reading Questions
- What kind of contribution might Orientalists make to entrenching this perspective?
- Does the text aim to condemn Orientalists, or to reveal their position within a broader network of representations?
Degree of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear place in the book’s material.