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Rejecting Materialism: Responses to Modern Science in the Muslim Middle East

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International Handbook of Research in History, Philosophy and Science Teaching

Abstract

In the past centuries, most Muslims have encountered modern science as a Western import. To avoid being overwhelmed by the military and commercial advantages enjoyed by technologically advanced nations, Middle Eastern Muslim societies had to begin adopting modern knowledge. As westernization started to shape social structures and institutions as well as technologies, conservative Muslim responses to modern science typically became conditioned by the demands of cultural defense. Many Muslim thinkers argued that upholding the religious character of Muslim civilization meant borrowing technology but rejecting the perceived materialism pervading the conceptual frameworks of modern science. This defensive approach remains prominent in present Muslim thinking about science. Almost all religiously oriented Muslim thinkers take harmony between science and Islam for granted, but in practice, conservative Muslims often express deep reservations about the naturalistic perspectives dominating modern science. Especially in the popular literature, religiously motivated distortions of science are common. Darwinian evolution is a particular target of rejection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, 63501, USA

    Taner Edis

  2. Center for Teaching and Learning and Science and Math Education Center, American University of Beirut, 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon

    Saouma BouJaoude

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  1. Taner Edis
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  2. Saouma BouJaoude
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Correspondence to Taner Edis .

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  1. School of Education, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Michael R. Matthews

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Edis, T., BouJaoude, S. (2014). Rejecting Materialism: Responses to Modern Science in the Muslim Middle East. In: Matthews, M. (eds) International Handbook of Research in History, Philosophy and Science Teaching. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7654-8_52

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