Traditional Islamic Environmentalism: The Vision of Seyyed Hossein Nasr

by Tarik M. Quadir

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761861447
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	09/16/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	312
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Tarik M. Quadir, PhD, studied at Swarthmore College, George Washington University, Harvard University, and the University of Birmingham, UK. He currently teaches at the Necmettin Erbakan University in Turkey. Quadir’s research interests include Sufism, the history of science, Islamic thought, environmentalism, peace-making, and South Asian religions.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction
0.1 The Environmental Crisis is Caused by Modern Technology-Based Lifestyles
0.2 Introduction to Seyyed Hossein Nasr
0.3 Failures of Mainstream Environmentalism
0.4 The Role for Religions and the Significance of Nasr
0.5 Nasr on Technological Solutions
0.6 Nasr and the Perennial Philosophy
0.7 Nasr and Traditional Islam
0.8 Environmentalism in the Muslim World and Nasr
0.9 The Need for a Sacred Science
0.10 Introduction Summary

Chapter 1
A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
1.1 Nature in the Pre-Modern Christian Europe
1.2 The Root is in Rationalism
1.3 The Renaissance Humanism and the Emergence of the Promethean Man
1.4 Scientific Revolution and the Divorce of Science from Metaphysics
1.5 Scientism and Scientific Progressivism during the Enlightenment and Beyond
1.6 Nasr’s General Recommendations for all Civilizations
1.7 Chapter Summary

Chapter 2
THE PERENNIAL PRINCIPLES AND THE METAPHYSICS OF NATURE WITHIN ISLAM
2.1 The Perennial Principles and the Islamic Tradition
2.2 Metaphysical Exposition of Tawhid and Hierarchy of Reality
2.3 Chapter Summary

Chapter 3
METAPHYSICS, SUFISM, AND ISLAMIC ETHICS
3.1 Nasr’s Strategies for the Dissemination and Application of the Knowledge of Islamic
Environmental Ethics
3.2 Religious and Metaphysical Doctrines at the Foundation of Islamic Ethics
3.3 The Metaphysics of the Hierarchy of Reality Provides the Rationale for Shari‘a
3.4 Sufism and the Supremacy of Knowledge by the Heart
3.5 Sufi Popularization of Nature’s Wonder
3.6 Chapter Summary

Chapter 4
THE ADVENT OF SCIENTIFIC PROGRESSIVISM AND THE MARGINALIZATION OF SUFISM
4.1 Nasr on the Contemporary Muslim Attitude towards Modern Science and Technology
4.2 The Advent of Scientific Progressivism
4.3 The Salafi Modernists
4.4 Conservative Salafi Rejection of Secularism
4.5 Revivalist/Revolutionary Salafi Movements
4.6 Transcendence of God and the Growing Affinity between Wahhabis and Salafis
4.7 Chapter Summary

Chapter 5
THE PERENNIAL PRINCIPLES AND THE TRADITIONAL ISLAMIC SCIENCES
5.1 Traditional Islamic Sciences
5.2 Classification of Sciences
5.3 Example of the Traditional Scientists
5.4 Chapter Summary

Chapter 6
NASR’S CRITIQUE OF MODERN SCIENCE AND SCIENTISM
6.1 Nasr and the Philosophy of Science
6.2 Limitations of Modern Science
6.3 Scientism Denies tawhid and the Hierarchy of Reality
6.4 Scientism Denies any Ultimate Meaning or Purpose
6.5 Scientism in Action
6.6 Nasr’s Arguments against the Theory of Evolution
6.7 Modern Science as a Way of Takthir
6.8 Takthir, the Environmental Crisis, and the Predicament for Muslims
6.9 Chapter Summary

Chapter 7
TECHNOLOGY IS NOT VALUE-NEUTRAL
7.1 Work and Spirituality in Islam
7.2 The Machine and its Relationship with the Human Being
7.3 Preservation and Revival of Traditional Modes of Production
7.4 Chapter Summary

Chapter 8
TOWARDS AN ISLAMIC SCIENCE
8.1 Why Metaphysics? Why the Metaphysics of Mulla Sadra?
8.2 An Outline of Sadra’s Natural Philosophy
8.3 Implications of Mulla Sadra’s Natural Philosophy
8.4 Technology Based on the New Islamic Science
8.5 The Debate over Islamic Science
8.6 Reform of Educational Institutions
8.7 Chapter Summary

Chapter 9
CONCLUSION
9.1 Summary of Nasr’s Approach for the Islamic World
9.2 What Have We Achieved?
9.3 Final Reflections

Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

[Regarding] the disclosure of the spiritual roots of the environmental crisis, it is no exaggeration to say that Seyyed Hossein Nasr is a visionary: for over half a century, he has been calling out on behalf of Mother Nature, articulating a vision of ecological harmony, and eliciting from many who share that vision a spiritual change of direction, a metanoia.. .. [R]ecommended reading for those wishing to know what they can do, at the deepest level, about the environmental crisis.

Reza Shah-Kazemi

Quadir has produced a brilliant work of research far transcending the book’s focus on technology, science, and environmentalism.. .. Accompanied by a plethora of notes [from] diverse sources, Quadir offers us a highly nuanced, intricately crafted investigation of the philosophical and ethical thinking underlying the environmentalist issue in modern Islam and the contemporary West.

Leonard Lewisohn

Dr. Tarik Quadir’s present work on environmentalism is perhaps one of the best studies on the subject to have appeared in recent years. Through his thorough exposition of the environmental philosophy of Seyyed Hossein Nasr. .. and his spiritual approach to the contemporary environmental crisis, Dr. Quadir has succeeded in articulating a veritable alternative to mainstream approaches to environmentalism.

'sman Bakar

Dr. Tarik Quadir’s present work on environmentalism is perhaps one of the best studies on the subject to have appeared in recent years. Through his thorough exposition of the environmental philosophy of Seyyed Hossein Nasr . . . and his spiritual approach to the contemporary environmental crisis, Dr. Quadir has succeeded in articulating a veritable alternative to mainstream approaches to environmentalism.

Osman Bakar