Abstract
The principle that assigns greater weight to information based on something seen over information derived from something heard can be widely found in literature of the premodern Islamic world. At the same time, eyewitnesses in narrative as well as philosophical sources are sometimes presented as unreliable. They misinterpret what they see or act in ways that require correction. Philosophers sometimes also commented in a scientific manner on the limitations of eyesight. The present article explores examples of literary characters who obtain information by way of eyesight or who hear about such information. Its primary sources are the Arabian Nights and stories about Alexander the Great. The stories illustrate that information derived from something heard or secondhand knowledge was also valued and that ironically information derived from the realization that something cannot be seen was sometimes considered superior to what eyesight allowed for.
Published Version
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