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Science In Islamic Countries
biohack sends us to Physics Today for a thought-provoking article on the status of and prospects for science in Islamic countries. The author, a Pakistani physicist, posits that 'Internal causes led to the decline of Islam's scientific greatness long before the era of mercantile imperialism. To contribute once again, Muslims must be introspective and ask what went wrong.' The author makes a few strong conclusions, many of which are relevant to the general debate between science and religion. From the article: "Science finds every soil barren in which miracles are taken literally and seriously and revelation is considered to provide authentic knowledge of the physical world. If the scientific method is trashed, no amount of resources or loud declarations of intent to develop science can compensate. In those circumstances, scientific research becomes, at best, a kind of cataloging or 'butterfly-collecting' activity. It cannot be a creative process of genuine inquiry in which bold hypotheses are made and checked."
"Pakistani physicist's head found 200 yards from body. 'Must have had an accident' says neighbors"
1984 was supposed to be a warning, not an instruction manual.
Of course Islam has trouble with science. It's no different than any other religion. Once you start with the preconception that "X is automatically right (because it's in a specific book)" you've rejected the scientific method utterly.
It's the exact same thing that's going on in America. The Jesus freaks utterly reject anything that might come into conflict with their preconception of GOD MADE THE EARTH IN SEVEN DAYS AND IF YOU SAY OTHERWISE YOU'RE GOING TO BURN IN HELL FOREVER. The "moderates" may be able to advance scientific despite their unscientific premises, but that only happens when the science is not in conflict with their religion, or when they ignore that conflict.
Care about privacy? Read this!
What a troll. At least have the balls to not post as AC.
I'm not popular enough to be different.
Homer Simpson, The Simpsons
In the Islamic world, the answer to all questions that begin with 'Why' is "Because it is the will of Allah". Apples do not fall to the ground because of gravity, they fall because "it is the will of Allah".
The only time that something is not because of "the will of Allah" is when it is the fault of "the Great Satan".
No need to be an asshat, I stated a fact. I backed it up with 2 articles. In fact, your statement was completely unrelated and irrelevant... So far, you've posted 6 times on the same article without any sources or real material. Come back when you have something interesting or useful to say.
--beckerist
What are you, some kind of racist? We ALL know that the apparent lack of progress in the Middle East is caused by Zionism. The Jews (and by proxy the United States) are responsible for a thousand years of Arab non-progress.
"Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy
I hear you brother! I assume you're talking about the mindless drones who refuse to believe anything that they don't hear straight from the mouth of Richard Dawkins, right?