Journal Article
Published
The Historical Criticism and Causality in The Philosophy of History: Ibn Khaldun’s Perspective
Abstract
This study will reveal how Ibn Khaldun’s philosophy of history, especially on his
historical criticism and the concept of causality. This research is based on literature and
qualitative research that uses a philosophical approach to explain the meaning of philosophy of
history. As there is theoretical speculation in the writing of history, there are some inaccuracies
in historical reports arises from the errors of historians. Ibn Khaldun shows those errors as a
historical criticism that historians should avoid them. Ibn Khaldun’s main method of history is
observing nature and society’s laws that control historical events, beside ta’dil and tajrih methods.
According to him, the study of history is to explain the things behind an event, not restricted
on the question about when what, and how an event occurred, but also explain about why the
possibility exists. This method leads to the knowledge of causality. Ibn Khaldun argued that
there was no event caused by accident. An event occurred because it was caused by a cause that
preceded it. There are four causes make the nature of civilization: ‘umrân as material cause,
daulah as formal cause, ‘ashabiyah as efficient cause, and mashâlih ‘âmmah as final cause.
Therefore, if any historical information deviates from these laws of causality, then critical
reasoning is necessary to assess the validity of the historical facts.
Publication Details
JournalTsaqafah
Volume18 (1)
Pagespp. 227-246
ISSN1411-0334
KeywordsIbn Khaldun, historical criticism, causality, philosophy of history, methodology
Item ID2791
Deposited24 Jun 2023 08:13