Social Discipline in Ibn Khaldun's Thoughts

The sociology science of Ibn Khaldun is a kind of social thought. Sometimes, it is viewed as another type of modern social theory. If, however, we consider the answer offered by modern social theories to the question about social discipline as sensible, we will perceive the essential difference between Ibn Khaldun’s answer to the question about social discipline and that of modern sociologists. This paper first shows that, due to their aloofness from all religious and metaphysical principles, the theories about modern sociology have a secular identity. After investigating the logic of sociology science and its status in Islamic civilization, the answer which is gives to the question about social discipline is compared with the answer offered by social theories about it. It is concluded that, although Ibn Khaldun, like modern sociologist, Comte (Count), considers intellect to be practical and historical, and therefore, his sociology science differs from the practical philosophy of Muslim philosophers, his ontology and anthropology prevent us from considering sociology science as a kind of modern sociological theory.