The preference field of Islamic political economic order is premised in agent-agent interactions and integrations that are pervasive across agents, systems and thought. Contrary to this, mainstream economic theory and its prototype in institutionalism, are premised on preference formation based on methodological individualism. This major difference between the two systems of life and thought is deeply and inextricably an epistemological one. Each derives its source of knowledge and conduct of life and thought based on these distinctive epistemologies and the principal sources they individually adhere to. In Islam these sources are the Qur'an, Sunnah and Ijtehad. In the occident the source is sheer reason and rationalism of the vagrant human praxis.

It is precisely because of the individuated nature of the human praxis in spite of the consensual political institutions that may be devised, that such individualistic preferences are copied across individuals, households and institutions to the entire social complex. Thus, interactions are marginalized despite how dearly they may be sought. In Islam, the very presence of the Unity and Unification Epistemology in the centre of experience and thought, embeds the principal of interaction, integration and evolution in a strong way. Thus preference fields in either of these two systems are to be studied in light of the nature of interactions, integration and evolution that emanate directly from the polar epistemological roots.

Inferences Derived from Occidental Epistemology in the Social Sciences

Comparative Perspective: Attributes of Islamic Worldview in the Social Sciences

Contrasting Perspectives Between Occidental and Islamic Epistemologies: 
Interactions-Integration Central to Islamic Preference Formation