Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. The Encounter of Man and Nature: The Spiritual Crisis of Modern Man
1968, Kazi Publications, Inc
-
Expand entry
-
Added by: Kas BernaysAbstract:
This work from one of the world's leading Islamic thinkers is a spiritual tour de force which explores the relationship between the human being and nature as found in many religious traditions, particularly its Sufi dimension. The author stresses the importance of a greater awareness of the origins of both the human being and nature as a means of righting the imbalance that exists in our deepest selves and in our environment.Comment (from this Blueprint): A landmark text in modern Islamic environmental philosophy — as a contrast to the focus on more historic sources in this topic.
Said, Edward W.. Orientalism
1978, Pantheon Books
-
Expand entry
-
Added by: Suddha Guharoy and Andreas SorgerPublisher’s Note:
More than three decades after its first publication, Edward Said's groundbreaking critique of the West's historical, cultural, and political perceptions of the East has become a modern classic.
In this wide-ranging, intellectually vigorous study, Said traces the origins of "orientalism" to the centuries-long period during which Europe dominated the Middle and Near East and, from its position of power, defined "the orient" simply as "other than" the occident. This entrenched view continues to dominate western ideas and, because it does not allow the East to represent itself, prevents true understanding. Essential, and still eye-opening, Orientalism remains one of the most important books written about our divided world.Comment (from this Blueprint): Orientalism is a classic text in postcolonial theory which successfully brought out the politics of ‘othering’. It shows how the ‘Orient’ was constructed by delineating it from the supposedly morally, culturally and politically advanced (and superior) ‘Occident’. The book is not so much about the East as much as it is about how the Orient was ‘produced’ by the imperial masters of Europe and America and perceived as the ‘other’ to the rest of the ‘civilized’ world. The author traces and examines various literary and political sources which originated and perpetuated Orientalism. The abstract gives an overview of the argument and introduces the reader to the rest of the book.
- 1
- 2
Can’t find it?
Contribute the texts you think should be here and we’ll add them soon!