The Paradigm of Islamic Thinker's Foundationalism: An Analysis of the Reference and Dependence of Non-Basic Propositions to Basic Propositions

Epistemologist theories of justification discuss the relationship between beliefs and propositions. These theories have been represented by the latest epistemologists in two general models: Foundationalism and Coherentism. This article first discusses the interpretations with regard to Foundationalism and then proposes a suggested paradigm. According to the Islamic thinkers’ model, beliefs and propositions are divided to: a) completely supportive propositions, and b) non-completely supportive propositions. This categorization is based on their different applications. Conceptual analyzing of coherence and dependence in (dependence or reference of superstructure beliefs on foundational beliefs) is very important in presenting the new model. Therefore, two models are propounded: inference pattern and supportive pattern. From Islamic philosophers’ point of view, the principle of contradiction is the most important type of completely supportive propositions. According to the suggested paradigm, some problems of the ordinary interpretation of foundationalism will be resolved. This article shows that epistemology of Islamic philosophers follows this model and has fewer problems as compared to the latest interpretations.