Thesis
Published
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SANDRA HARDING'S STANDPOINT EPISTEMOLOGY
Abstract
Sandra Harding’s standpoint epistemology critiques the masculine bias
embedded in modern epistemology. Through the concepts of strong objectivity
and situated knowledge, Harding redefines the criteria of epistemic validation.
However, this approach generates new epistemological challenges such as false
universalism, epistemic relativism, and ultimately becomes entangled in the very
bias paradox it aims to overcome.
This study aims to critically examine Harding’s standpoint epistemology
from the perspective of Islamic epistemology, specifically through the thought of
Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas. Using a qualitative-analytical approach, the
study investigates the foundational limitations of standpoint epistemology and
compares them with the Islamic epistemological framework, which emphasizes
the integration of the senses, intellect, intuition, verified transmission (khabar
ṣādiq), and ethical discipline (adab) in attaining true knowledge.
This research employs a library-based method with a philosophicalcritical analysis. Primary sources include Harding’s key works and major texts
from Islamic epistemology, especially al-Attas’s writings that stress the
transcendental origin of knowledge.
The findings reveal that while standpoint epistemology succeeds in
opening space for critique against modern epistemic bias, it fails to provide a
solid epistemological foundation. In contrast, Islamic epistemology does not
regard knowledge as a mere social construct but as a process of attaining
transcendental truth (al-ḥaqq). Thus, it offers a more comprehensive solution to
the crisis of objectivity and the direction of knowledge that standpoint theory
confronts.
The study concludes that Islamic epistemology is not merely an
alternative or a corrective to standpoint theory, but a more integrated epistemic
paradigm that unites spiritual, intellectual, and social dimensions while avoiding
the relativism and ideological bias inherent in Harding’s approach.
Future research could explore standpoint theory in relation to other
Islamic epistemologies, such as those of Mulla Sadra, al-Ghazali, or Ibn Sina.
Comparative studies between feminist and Islamic perspectives on gender,
knowledge, and authority would also enrich our understanding of how justice
and truth are conceptualized across paradigms.
Publication Details
InstitutionUniversitas Darussalam Gontor
DepartmentAqidah and Islamic Philosophy
SubjectsB Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion
H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion
H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
KeywordsStandpoint Epistemology, Harding, Islamic Epistemology, Al-Attas
Item ID7720
Deposited03 May 2025 23:54