Islam, modernity, and the human sciences
Book Description
In an era where religious and secular worldviews often seem irreconcilably divided, Ali Hassan Zaidi offers a groundbreaking bridge between Islamic and Western intellectual traditions. This scholarly exploration reveals the profound yet overlooked conversations that exist between Muslim thinkers and Western social scientists as they grapple with fundamental questions about meaning, purpose, and the sacred dimension of human knowledge.
Drawing upon the hermeneutical insights of Hans-Georg Gadamer and principles from interfaith dialogue, Zaidi creates what he calls a "translation service" between two rich intellectual traditions. He examines contemporary Muslim scholars' perspectives on secular knowledge alongside foundational Western debates about the role of metaphysics in understanding human experience and society.
The book challenges prevailing assumptions on multiple fronts. It confronts Muslim critics who view modern human sciences as inevitably leading toward spiritual emptiness, while simultaneously addressing Western scholars who dismiss religious thought as incompatible with rigorous social inquiry. Through careful comparative analysis, Zaidi demonstrates how both traditions share deeper concerns about transcendence and meaning than typically recognized.
For readers seeking to understand how different wisdom traditions approach questions of knowledge, spirituality, and human purpose, this work opens new pathways for dialogue. It expands social theory beyond conventional Western boundaries while contributing to the emerging field of comparative social thought, offering fresh perspectives on how religious and secular approaches to understanding humanity might inform and enrich each other.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages)
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Christianity and other religions, islam
- ✓ Explore Relations
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore Islam, relations, christianity
- ✓ Explore Christianity and other religions
- ✓ Explore timeless philosophical wisdom
- ✓ Explore Islam
- ✓ Explore Social sciences
