Problematics of Enlightenment - (African Philosophy: Critical Perspectives and Global Dialogu) by Mourad Wahba (Hardcover)

About the Book

The Problematics of Enlightenment: Human Reason, North African Philosophy, and the Global South argues that the claim that human reason-not inherited social institutions-is the ultimate source of justification is a universalizable principle whose actualization would make progress possible in Egypt and elsewhere in the Global South.

Book Synopsis

The Problematics of Enlightenment: Human Reason, North African Philosophy, and the Global South argues that the claim that human reason-not inherited social institutions--is the ultimate source of justification is a universalizable principle whose actualization would make progress possible in Egypt and elsewhere in the Global South.

Review Quotes

"The Problematics of Enlightenment collects together a number of essays by the Egyptian thinker Mourad Wahba, whose common denominator is an unadulterated admiration for Enlightenment ideals, which he regards as universal rather than exclusively European. Wahba's advocacy of liberalism and secularism represents a significant strand in twentieth-century Arab-Islamic and North African philosophy, which no student of these philosophical traditions can afford to ignore. The philosophical ideas that he advocates are very accessible and the translation is lucid, so these texts would work well in a range of introductory university courses. Moreover, the concise introduction by Zeyad el Nabolsy does an admirable job of situating Wahba's ideas in their intellectual context and provides a sympathetic but critical look at his philosophical outlook, contrasting it with decolonial and Marxist thought."

"Zeyad el Nabolsy masterfully captures Wahba's profound philosophical insights, bridging the cultural and intellectual divide between East and West. Wahba's work, originally penned in Arabic, offers a fresh and essential perspective on the Enlightenment from North Africa, challenging conventional narratives and enriching the global discourse. El Nabolsy's translation not only preserves the depth and nuance of Wahba's ideas but also makes them accessible to a wider audience, making this book a significant contribution to contemporary philosophical thought."

About the Author

Mourad Wahba is emeritus professor of philosophy, Ain Shams University.

Zeyad el Nabolsy is assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy at York University.