The Etymological Path to Moral Meaning: Adam and the Names

Abstract This paper advances the claim that an investigation into significance of Qurʾānic terms must consider semantic etymology elements under investigation, especially have developed technical concepts in Islamic theology and philosophy like ethical variety investigated this volume. The present article will give some salient reason for imperative demonstrate value understanding anthropological dimensions theological concepts. Semantic etymology, practice uncovering ‘original’ imposition a word-thing relation ( aṣl al-waḍʿ ) by deducing meaning word from other words sharing same lexeme was more than descriptive linguistic science Arab-Islamic tradition. In late antiquity Greek Latin etymologia , Arabic ishtiqāq al-maʿná (later ʿilm ), fully-fledged instrument conceptual analysis reader powerful tool discursive authority both author reader. offers account, not only original relation, but also essential nature object. our current moment history where ‘essences’ ‘essential qualities’ lost almost all currency, opens door reconsideration worth ‘etymologies’ as sound useful philosophical objects analysis.