Furani as Ontology Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the central thesis of Khaled Furani’s Redeeming Anthropology?
Anthropology has been secularized to the point of forgetting its theological and ethical roots; Furani argues for redeeming anthropology by reintroducing theological thought and metaphysical dimensions into anthropological inquiry.
How does Furani critique secularism in anthropology?
He critiques secularism as a dominant epistemic regime that limits anthropology’s moral and metaphysical scope, reducing human existence to immanence and dismissing the transcendent as unscientific.
How does Furani propose to reintroduce theology into anthropology?
By presenting theology not as dogma but as an intellectual resource that opens new horizons of ethical reflection, self-critique, and metaphysical possibility.
What ontological position does Furani support in Redeeming Anthropology?
Furani supports an ontology that includes the transcendent, ethical responsibility, and metaphysical dimensions, contrasting with the immanentist ontology of secular anthropological traditions.
How can Furani’s work help respond to theoretical questions from Prof. Dr. Alev Erkilet?
It enables critique of modernity and secularism using a theological lens, aligning with Erkilet’s interests in civilizational and religious critique of Western paradigms.
How might Furani’s ideas align with Prof. Dr. Irfan Ahmad’s critical anthropology?
Furani’s insistence on recovering silenced theological voices supports Ahmad’s post-secular critique of modern social sciences and coloniality in epistemology.
In what way could you use Furani’s ideas to discuss ‘ontology’ during your oral exam?
You could describe ontology as both the study of being and a critical reflection on the assumptions behind what counts as ‘real’—linking philosophical ontology, the anthropological ontological turn, and Furani’s theological-metaphysical orientation.
What is the classical philosophical meaning of ‘ontology’?
Ontology is the branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature of being, existence, and reality—especially what entities exist and how they can be categorized.
What is the ontological turn in anthropology?
It is a movement that emphasizes the plurality of worlds and modes of existence among cultures, challenging the universalizing epistemologies of Western science.
How does theology extend ontology?
Theology extends ontology by including divine being, metaphysical realities, and notions of sacred responsibility or ultimate concerns that are often excluded from secular frameworks.
How can Furani’s approach support methodological reflexivity?
His theological critique highlights the limitations of method when divorced from metaphysical reflection and invites scholars to be reflexive about their ontological commitments.
Why is ontology central to Furani’s critique of modern anthropology?
Because modern anthropology often presumes a closed, immanent ontology that excludes the sacred, thereby limiting its understanding of human life and ethical depth.
How might Rahime Arzu Ünal respond to Furani’s proposal?
She may appreciate the emphasis on ethical and spiritual dimensions in anthropology, especially if her work intersects with Islamic or post-secular thought.
What are some hyperliteral meanings of ‘ontology’?
Ontology can be taken hyperliterally as the discourse (logos) of being (ontos), entailing any structured reflection on what exists—whether divine, material, social, or abstract.
How can metaphorical ontology be applied sociologically?
As metaphors of being—e.g., ‘structure,’ ‘field,’ or ‘network’—shape how sociologists conceive of social existence, agency, and interaction.
