The Idea
The text affirms that the effects of the closure of philosophical rationality are still in force today; that is, what happened historically has not remained merely an event of the past. Some of the effects of exclusion or pressure on philosophical thinking remain visible in consciousness, culture, and institutions. The issue, then, is not a distant memory, but the continuation of an intellectual structure that obstructs full openness to questioning and critique.
Concise Formulation
The closure of philosophical rationality: its effects continue to this day
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim occupies an important place because it connects the past with the present within the book’s argument. The discussion of closure is not intended to describe a finished phase, but to show that its effects have not been erased by time. In this way, the text places the reader before the responsibility of reading history as an extended present, not as a disconnected narrative.
Why It Matters
The importance of this idea lies in the fact that it prevents the critique of closure from being treated as an old issue belonging to a finished context. It reveals that Arkoun sees some intellectual obstacles as continuing to shape the public sphere. This observation therefore helps in understanding the nature of his critical project, which turns toward inherited structures as much as it turns toward the present.
Brief Evidence
The text affirms that the effects of the closure of philosophical rationality are still in force today. The effects of exclusion and restriction do not remain only in the past; they appear in consciousness, culture, and institutions. The issue thus appears as the continuation of an intellectual structure that obstructs full openness to questioning.
Reading Questions
- What is meant by the closure of philosophical rationality in this context?
- How can a historical effect continue despite changes in times and circumstances?
Degree of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear passage from the book’s material.