Author: Shukran Ahmadi
The Power of Reason and Its Domain (Part Three)
Cognition Tools of Science
In response to this issue, one important point is worth pondering: any system cannot sustain life successfully without scientific support. Allah has provided a series of means to study science in various fields. Each of these tools has a specific range. Every tool is effective within its scope; beyond that scope, it loses its efficiency and becomes unusable.
For example, the first means of acquiring knowledge given to humans are the five senses: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and sense of touch. We gain knowledge about many issues through observation with our eyes. Knowledge is obtained by tasting, smelling, and touching. However, these five tools for acquiring knowledge each have a jurisdiction that does not work beyond their respective scopes.
The eye sees, but it cannot hear. The ear listens, but it cannot see. The nose smells, but it cannot see. If someone says, “I close my eyes and see with my ears,” the people would call him ignorant because the ear was not created for seeing. If this person is told, “Your ears do not see; therefore, your efforts are completely in vain,” he might respond, “Then, if the ear does not see, it is worthless.” The world would think of him as crazy because he does not understand that the function of the ear has limitations and is effective only to a certain extent. If we attempt to derive the function of the eye from the ear, it simply will not work.
Undoubtedly, Allah has given us the five senses to acquire knowledge; however, they also do not function outside of their scope. The eye, ear, tongue, and hand are rendered ineffective beyond their capacity for action.
This is precisely the point at which the tools of science become ineffective, leaving us with no means to observe things accurately. In such situations, Allah has provided us another tool to acquire knowledge: “reason.”
Since the five senses lose their effectiveness, reason comes to the aid of human understanding. For example, there is a table in front of me. I can see it with my eyes and recognize its color. I can touch it with my hand and feel that the wood is solid and beautifully painted.
However, how did this table come to be? I cannot observe nor tell its creation with my eyes; I cannot hear its making with my ears, nor touch or feel it with my hands, as the process of making the table did not occur in my presence. In situations like this, common sense advises that this elegantly crafted table did not come into existence by itself; rather, it was made by a manufacturer—an experienced and skilled carpenter who crafted this table so beautifully.
Therefore, the knowledge of how to make this table is one of the instructions of reason. When my five senses lost their effectiveness, reason stepped in to provide me with new guidance and insight.
Continues…
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