The Idea
The text argues that European modernity displaced the theological hegemony that had governed the Western public sphere. What is meant is that knowledge, politics, and thought were no longer subject to a single religious authority as had previously been the case. The claim presents this shift as a defining marker of the European modern experience, setting it against other contexts in which theological authority remains strong.
Concise Formulation
European modernity: displaced theological hegemony in the West
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim serves the book’s argument by highlighting the effect of historical transformation in shaping forms of knowledge. It describes not only Europe, but also uses it as an example of what happens when the relationship between religion and knowledge changes. In this way, the discussion of modernity becomes an entry point for understanding the difference between societies that have moved beyond theological hegemony and others that have not yet done so.
Why It Matters
The importance of the claim lies in the fact that it reveals the comparative background on which Arkoun relies across historical experiences. It explains why the question of modernity remains urgent in the Arab-Islamic sphere, and why repeating old formulas is not enough. It also shows that his discussion revolves around the conditions for the transmission of knowledge, not around praising the West.
Reading Questions
- What does it mean for theological hegemony to be displaced from the public sphere?
- How does this shift change the way one thinks about knowledge and religion?
Degree of Documentation
Medium: the claim is composed from more than one place within the book’s material.