Traditional Islamic environmentalism : the vision of Seyyed Hossein Nasr / Tarik M. Quadir.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Quadir, Tarik M.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nasr, Seyyed Hossein.

Environmentalism--Religious aspects--Islam.

Environmentalism.

Nature--Religious aspects--Islam.

Nature.

Environmental protection--Religious aspects--Islam.

Environmental protection.

Physical Description:

xii, 263 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Maryland : University Press of America, [2013]

Summary:

This work examines the relevance of traditional Islamic thought and practices for a lasting solution to the current environmental crisis. Quadir describes how Seyyed Hossein Nasr challenges Muslims to reclaim their traditional intellectual and Sufi heritage as powerful means toward a most thoughtful approach to the crisis. In so doing, Nasr urges us to take a critical look at the consequences of the worldviews generated by modern science and technology and offers bold solutions for a more caring relationship between man and nature. The book argues that only a revival of the traditional worldview which perceives all entities of nature as signs of God can effectively respond to the crisis our planet faces. Book jacket.

Contents:

Notes 33

1 A Historical Overview of the Philosophical Roots of the Environmental Crisis 47

1.1 Nature in the Pre-Modern Christian Europe 48

1.2 The Root Is in Rationalism 49

1.3 The Renaissance Humanism and the Emergence of the Promethean Man 50

1.4 Scientific Revolution and the Divorce of Science from Metaphysics 54

1.5 Scientism and Scientific Progressivism during the Enlightenment and Beyond 56

1.6 Nasr's General Recommendations for All Civilizations 63

1.7 Chapter Summary 63

Notes 64

2 The Perennial Principles and the Metaphysics of Nature within Islam 71

2.1 The Perennial Principles and the Islamic Tradition 72

2.2 Metaphysical Exposition of Tawhid and the Hierarchy of Reality 73

2.3 Chapter Summary 80

Notes 81

3 Metaphysics, Sufism, and Islamic Ethics 85

3.1 Nasr's Strategies for the Dissemination and Application of the Knowledge of Islamic Environmental Ethics 86

3.2 Religious and Metaphysical Doctrines at the Foundation of Islamic Ethics 87

3.3 The Metaphysics of the Hierarchy of Reality Provides the Rationale for Shari 'a 90

3.4 Sufism and the Supremacy of Knowledge by the Heart 91

3.5 Sufi Popularization of Nature's Wonder 95

3.6 Chapter Summary 97

Notes 98

4 The Advent of Scientific Progressivism and the Marginalization of Sufism 105

4.1 Nasr on the Contemporary Muslim Attitude towards Modem Science and Technology 106

4.2 The Advent of Scientific Progressivism 109

4.3 The Salafi Modernists 111

4.4 Conservative Salafi Rejection of Secularism 116

4.5 Revivalist/Revolutionary Salafi Movements 118

4.6 Transcendence of God and the Growing Affinity between Wahhabis and Salafis 122

4.7 Chapter Summary 124

Notes 126

5 The Perennial Principles and the Traditional Islamic Sciences 133

5.1 Traditional Islamic Sciences 134

5.2 Classification of Sciences 146

5.3 Example of the Traditional Scientists 147

5.4 Chapter Summary 148

Notes 148

6 Nasr's Critique of Modern Science and Scientism 155

6.1 Nasr and the Philosophy of Science 156

6.2 Limitations of Modern Science 158

6.3 Scientism Denies tawhid and the Hierarchy of Reality 161

6.4 Scientism Denies any Ultimate Meaning or Purpose 162

6.5 Scientism in Action 165

6.6 Nasr's Arguments against the Theory of Evolution 167

6.7 Modern Science as a Way of Takthir 171

6.8 Takthir, the Environmental Crisis, and the Predicament for Muslims 172

6.9 Chapter Summary 174

Notes 174

7 Technology Is Not Value-Neutral 181

7.1 Work and Spirituality in Islam 183

7.2 The Machine and Its Relationship with the Human Being 186

7.3 Preservation and Revival of Traditional Modes of Production 194

7.4 Chapter Summary 195

Notes 196

8 Towards an Islamic Science 203

8.1 Why Metaphysics? Why the Metaphysics of Mulla Sadra? 204

8.2 An Outline of Sadra's Natural Philosophy 207

8.3 Implications of Mulla Sadra's Natural Philosophy 214

8.4 Technology Based on the New Islamic Science 215

8.5 The Debate over Islamic Science 216

8.6 Reform of Educational Institutions 218

8.7 Chapter Summary 222

Notes 223

9 Conclusion 231

9.1 Summary of Nasr's Approach for the Islamic World 232

9.2 What Have We Achieved? 233

9.3 Final Reflections 235

Notes 237.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 239-254) and index.

ISBN:

9780761861430

0761861432

OCLC:

861016094