Metaphysical and Phenomenological Doubt in the Search for Truth: A Comparative Study of al-Ghazālī and Edmund Husserl

Al-Ghazālī's method of metaphysical doubt resembles Edmund Husserl's phenomenological approach: doubt serves as a methodological suspension to uncover indubitable truths, not as an end in itself. Both thinkers share a commitment to epistemic certainty, the role of intuition, and self-transformation in the search for truth. The paper proposes a framework for rethinking religious epistemology by integrating mystical experience with rational method, situating al-Ghazālī in contemporary debates in epistemology, phenomenology, and philosophy of religion.

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Abstract

AbstractThis study examines al-Ghazālī's method of metaphysical doubt in light of phenomenological approaches, particularly that of Edmund Husserl. It argues that al-Ghazālī's intellectual crisis and subsequent journey toward certain knowledge reveal a proto-phenomenological attitude, wherein doubt is not an end in itself but a methodological suspension aimed at uncovering indubitable truths. Through comparative analysis, this paper explores their shared commitment to epistemic certainty, the role of intuition, and the transformation of the self in the search for truth. Furthermore, it highlights the interplay between mystical experience and rational method, proposing a novel framework for rethinking religious epistemology in light of phenomenological reflection. The study utilizes both primary sources and recent scholarship, situating al-Ghazālī within a broader philosophical context that underscores his relevance to contemporary debates in epistemology, phenomenology, and the philosophy of religion. Keywords: al-Ghazālī, Husserl, doubt, phenomenology, intuition, self-transformation, epistemology, metaphysics, Islamic philosophy, certainty, faith.