Bennabi

Question 1

What influenced the book?

Answer 1

Gibbs - modern trends in Islam

Question 2

What is atomism and what does Bennabi offer to demonstrate it isn’t exclusive to Islam?
When does atomism began - two different periods

Answer 2

The inability to generalize

We are the first religion to be based on fundamental principles and law.

Law presupposes an ability to snythesize.

At the developmental stage and at the end when intellectual effort ceases.

Question 3

How does bennabi define humanism and why does he believe we didn’t adopt it via European influence?

Answer 3

Humanism is defined as - altruism, tolerance and respect for the human person.

Abu Baker- don’t attack the unarmed, monks, plantations or cattle

Omar- Jerusalem - wouldn’t step foot in the temple.

Question 4

What is bennabis “cycle of civilizations”?

Answer 4

Civilizations occur in cycles - each cycle is defined by certain psycho temporal conditions proper to a social group

Each metamorphosis is a particular synthesis of man, soil and time.

1. Soul - creates the social relations network and conditioned reflexes are optimal because every activity of the individual or society is under the control of the law of the spirit. Does not eradicate Instincts, but organizes them towards progress.
2. Reason - begins with development, material problems, and expansion. Religion starts losing control over reason and instinct and reason doesn’t control instinct.
3. instinct- individualism prevails and the social relations network disintegrates.

Question 5

To bennabi, what allows civilization to flourish?

When does a civilization cycle end according to bennabi ?

Answer 5

Faith - a unique source of human energy.

When a society reaches the point in its evolution when the breath that gave it life ceases to animate it. - “the radiation of the soil

Question 6

Difference between salvation and Individual soul and evolution of societies ?

Answer 6

Religion is a catalyzer of social values. The moment religion becomes centripetal and without radition, and thus individualistic, it no longer promotes civilization.

Question 7

What are the three stages of Muslim civilization?

Answer 7

Psycho temporal - religious

Temporal rational after the battle of Suffin when the civilizations soul flat lines- ends with death of ibn Khaldun

Era of decadence - post almohadean man- lost his curiosity, inquiry and social and historical consciences and is resigned to intellectual and moral torpor.