Two kinds of knowledge: Before any chapter of Mantiq can be understood, one distinction must be made clear. All human knowledge — without exception — falls into one of two kinds.
First — Tasawwur: The first is Tasawwur: knowing WHAT something is. It is forming a concept in the mind, without judging whether it is true or false.
Tasawwur, then Tasdiq: Understanding the concept of "water", of "justice", of "Wajib" (obligation), or of "triangle" — none of these statements is true or false; they are pure mental pictures. The second is Tasdiq: knowing WHETHER something is true.
Making a judgement: It is making a judgement — affirming or denying that something belongs to a subject. "Water is wet" is true.
True and false, tested: "Stealing is haram" is true. "Prayer is not obligatory" is false.
What Mantiq covers: Every Tasdiq is a proposition: it has a truth value and can be proven or disproven. Mantiq covers Tasawwur through words and meanings, the five universals, and definition.
Tasdiq's scope, Tasawwur's question: It covers Tasdiq through propositions, hypothetical statements, the syllogism, and the five arts of argument. The question Tasawwur answers is: "What is this thing?"
The Tasdiq question: The question Tasdiq answers is: "Is this true?"
Example
Putting it into practice: When you think "what is justice?" you are in Tasawwur. When you say "this ruling is just" you are in Tasdiq — and now you must prove it.
Key Terms
- Tasawwur (التصور) — concept formation
- Tasdiq (التصدیق) — judgement / assent
- Majhul al-Tasawwur — unknown concept
Quran or Hadith
None on this slide. Summary quote of Muzaffar, as shown: "The purpose of Mantiq is to teach us how to correctly reach new Tasawwurat from known ones through Definition — and how to correctly reach new Tasdiqat from known ones through Proof." — to be checked.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: Two-column comparison diagram: Tasawwur ("What is it?") vs Tasdiq ("Is it true?"), with examples under each. To be drawn in Project Desk colours.
- The first is Tasawwur: knowing WHAT something is.
- When you think "what is justice?" you are in Tasawwur. When you say "this ruling is just" you are in Tasdiq — and now you must prove it.