“Language has multiple uses, and is embedded in different forms of life. It is not necessary to have this grand concept of "humanity" in order to behave decently.” DifferentUseFormHumanityOrderLanguageConceptsBehaveMultipleEmbedded Author:Talal Asad
“You do not need intellectuality for deep faith. You do not need it for behaving humanely towards people whether fellow Muslims or non-Muslims. You do not need a concept, a theory, you do not need intellectual arguments for justifying a way of living that is already in place in order for it to proceed.” PeopleWayNeedsOrderTheoryIntellectualConceptsArgumentFellows Author:Talal Asad
“You should never employ your intellect but only that it is not essential to exercise it in order to live a humane life. Language permeates all of life, of course, and one's mind is essential to it, but that does not mean intellectuality should transcend all of life.” ShouldMindMeanDoeOrderCoursesLanguageExerciseEssentialsIntellectHumane Author:Talal Asad
“Certainly in order to understand the natural world one needs clarity, logic, and the capacity for theory building. But that understanding tends to improve because and to the extent that it is provisional, hypothetical, when it looks for disconfirmation in the particular rather than final proof as a universal.” WorldNeedsLooksOrderUnderstandingNaturalBuildingParticularTheoryCapacityLogicUniversalFinalsProofClarityNatural WorldHypothetical Author:Talal Asad
“For the law, the clarity of language and the finality of judgment is crucial, because you have to decide a case one way or another - whether it is criminal or civil or whatever. In ordinary life, you do not have to decide things with absolute finality. You do not have to decide on a theory in order to behave in a certain way towards other people.” PeopleWayLawCertainOrderLanguageCasesTheoryJudgmentOrdinaryAbsolutesCriminalsClarityOne WayBehaveCrucialOrdinary LifeFinality Author:Talal Asad
