The place of the occult sciences in contemporary historiography of science: A Critique and proposal through the case of Taşköprülüzâde

Occult sciences, described as "proto-science" or "pseudoscience" within Western historiography, have been significantly overlooked in Islamic historiography of science. Prominent scholars like David Pingree, E. S. Kennedy, A. I. Sabra, George Saliba, and Jamil Ragep have largely ignored occult sciences, resulting in historically decontextualized and censored narratives of Islamic scientific history. Given the substantial yet often miscataloged occult literature in manuscript libraries, there is a clear need for scholarly reassessment. According to Wouter Hanegraaff, the marginalization of occult sciences results from a dismissive academic stance, treating these studies as undeserving of serious attention and categorizing them as "rejected knowledge." This thesis critically examines the intellectual judgments behind this marginalization: viewing occult sciences merely as false religion or pre-scientific practices rooted in the dominant anti-dualist paradigm prevalent in Western academia. Matthew Melvin-Koushki notes that this paradigm's influence persists strongly within Islamic historiographical studies. In this context, the thesis addresses three critical questions: How should occult sciences be defined? What is their position in relation to religion and modern science? How can occult sciences be legitimized within the discipline of the history of science? The first chapter engages with these questions using Hanegraaff's conceptual framework and Caner Dagli's concept of anti-dualism. The second chapter redefines occult sciences philosophically and historically based on Melvin-Koushki's framework. Finally, the third chapter explores the extensive classification of sciences by Taşköprülüzâde Ahmed, highlighting the integral place of occult sciences within Islamic scientific tradition.