GPISH prospectus 2011_Layout 1.qxd - The Institute of Ismaili Studies

Knowledge, World, Action: The aim of this module is, via the examination of a number of
traditional topics and problems in Western Philosophy, to acquaint the student with the
methods of analysis and criticism that characterise contemporary Western Philosophical
thought. Topics covered will be: truth and reasoning; the problem of induction; causation;
time; free will; scepticism about the external world; the analysis of knowledge; philosophy,
ethics and insight; and the grounds of political obligation.
> Gender and Representation: This module will introduce students to the key debates and
thinkers on Islam and gender. The subject will be approached from two perspectives. The
first half of the module will focus on the ideological discourses that surround this subject
and the role of scriptures in legitimising/de-legitimising competing ideologies. Such debates
often fail to go beyond the rhetoric and stated ideals to explore the translation of these
ideologies into lived realities and the negotiations that shape ‘life as lived’. The second half of
the module will hence help students explore lived Islam, particularly as it pertains to gender
roles, relations and identities, in the light of the competing ideologies discussed in the first
half of the module.
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Programme
> Literature and Culture: The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to literary
analysis and cultural argument. The module is not a survey or history of literary and
cultural theory. It seeks, rather, to develop the analytical skills required to engage
seriously with literary and critical texts. The emphasis will be on careful examination
through group discussion of key arguments and textual passages.
> Ismaili Philosophy: This module aims to locate ‘Ismaili Intellectualism’ within the larger
framework of religious thinking and its relation to Islamic philosophy and theology. It
distinguishes between two approaches to the study of ‘Ismailism’; those adopted by
Orientalists and the insider vision and self portrayal.
> Modern Islamic Thought: This module traces significant developments in Islamic thought
during the modern period. It seeks to develop an awareness of illustrative trends, methods
and ideas in contemporary Islamic thought focusing on the long 20th century, highlighting its
dynamism and diversity, from Islamists to their intellectual opponents, who also work in an
Islamic idiom. It encourages a contextual approach that underlines the complexities and
nuances of Islamic positions, and develops an appreciation of the central concerns and
persistent problematics of modern Islamic thought. It also seeks to encourage an
awareness of the shifting backgrounds and credentials of would-be spokespersons for
Islam in the modern period.