Contemporary Secular Approaches to the Origin and Study of Man: An Islamic Critique
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53449/ije.v3i2.135Keywords:
evolution of man, creation of man, Islamic epistemology, contemporary psychology, secularismAbstract
This paper critically analyses contemporary secular psychological approaches to the origin and methodological study of man from an Islamic perspective. The paper argues that the contemporary theories on human existence and behaviour emerged from secularism which has taken a philosophical view that the world and all that it contains is a result of evolution. Both the ontology and epistemology of research have been influenced by this view point. Thus, the behaviour of man is defined and studied to exclude his spiritual dimension, a direct conflict with the Islamic view point which links every creature and its behaviour to the creation and guidance of Allah. It is recommended that an integrative methodological approach be adopted to cater for both the materialistic and spiritual aspects of man.
References
Al-Attas, M. N. (1979). Aims and objectives of Islamic education. Hodder & Stoughton: Islamic Education series.
Al-Faruqi, I. R. (1982). Islamization of knowledge: General principles and work plan. Herndon, Virginia, USA: International Institute of Islamic Thought.
Anastasi, A. (1968). Psychological testing. New York, Macmillan.
Badri, M. D. (1979). The dilemma of Muslim psychologists. London: MWH London Publishers.
Bucaille, M. (1983). What is the origin of man? Paris: Seghers.
Farley, J. (1986). Philosophical and historical aspects of the origin of life. Treb. Soc. Cat. Biol., 39, 37-47.
Lakatos, I. (1976). Proofs and refutations: The logic of mathematical discovery. Cambridge University Press.
Lemu, A. B. (1990). A critical look at the theory of Evolution. Mina: Islamic Education Trust.
Bakar, U. 1. (1984). Ibn Sina’s methodological approach towards the study of nature in his oriental philosophy. Hamdard Islamicus, 17(1).
Basher, Z. (1986) Towards an Islamic theory of knowledge (Part 1). The Islamic World Review.
Hamid, R. (1977). Mandate for Muslim health professionals: An Islamic psychology. Proceedings of the 1st Symposium on Islam and Psychology, Association of Muslim Social Scientists.
Maiwada, D. A. (1986). Knowledge and values: Between truth and falsehood. Paper for 4th International Conference on Islamization of knowledge, August 1986.
Reader, J. (1992) The missing link’, Salamta, 19(1).
Salem, H. M, (1989). Comparative study of human nature. Hamdard Islamicus, 9(1).
Shariati, A. (1979). Islamic view of man. London: Islamic Students Islamic Society.
Oparin, A. I. (1956). The origin of life on the earth. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd.
Philips, A, B. (2002). Contemporary issues. Retrieved from: https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single/en_Contemporary_Issues.pdf
Phillips, G. (2011). Introduction to secularism. London: National Secular Society.
Pring, R. (2010). Philosophy of educational research (2nd ed.). London: Continuum.
