al-Qisṭās al-mustaqīm

The Correct Balance is a dialogue in which al-Ghazālī answers an adherent of the Ismāʿīlī doctrine of authoritative teaching (taʿlīm) on how true knowledge is to be weighed. His answer is that the Qurʾān itself contains the 'correct balance': five balances, three of 'equivalence' corresponding to the three figures of the categorical syllogism, a balance of 'concomitance' corresponding to the conditional syllogism and a balance of 'opposition' corresponding to the disjunctive syllogism. Each is illustrated from Qurʾānic arguments, such as Abraham's argument with Nimrod. It is the clearest example of al-Ghazālī presenting logic in Qurʾānic dress, and shows how the syllogism could be defended as a scriptural rather than a foreign art.

Draft · awaiting review by a qualified teacher