Le Bitcoin et le progrès technique
In English La montée des cryptomonnaies en 2017 a attiré l’attention sur la technologie sur laquelle toutes ces monnaies virtuelles s’appuient : La “blockchain” ou “La chaîne de blocs”. Cette article propose une analyse des raisons pour laquelle elle est devenue si populaire, des problèmes qu’elles résoud mais aussi de ceux qu’elle crée. Qu’est-ce que la Blockchain? On explique mieux la Blockchain en utilisant l’analogie. … Continue reading Le Bitcoin et le progrès technique
Bitcoin and Technological Progress
En Français The rise of cryptocurrencies in 2017 brought attention to the technology powering them, called “blockchains” or “the blockchain.” This article will assess why this technology became popular and what kinds of problems it both solves and creates. What is Blockchain? Blockchain is best explained through analogy. Think of the website of a newspaper like The New York Times. The contents of the site … Continue reading Bitcoin and Technological Progress
The Selfie Epidemic
For centuries, we have measured ourselves against Greco-Roman standards of perfection. While the tendency to live up to powerful cultural expectations predates Ancient Greece, the historical foundations of western individualism is often traced back to this period, where ecological factors helped nurture a proto-entrepreneurial guile amongst citizens, eventually contributing towards a culture of self-sufficiency where people viewed themselves as individuals rather than part of a … Continue reading The Selfie Epidemic
Gene Editing: The Problem of Progress
In November 2018, biophysics researcher He Jiankui rattled the realms of biotechnology, molecular biology, and the rest of the world and faced a series of condemnations. Headlines like “Genetically edited babies – scientific advancement or playing God?” and “Chinese scientist responsible for Designer Babies is facing Death Penalty” proliferated across mainstream media, as two distinct sides, one excited by the prospects by such technology and … Continue reading Gene Editing: The Problem of Progress
Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad on Riding the Tiger of Modernity
Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, also known as Professor Timothy Winter, is one of the foremost public Muslim intellectuals of this era. Involved in a number of projects, from heading a college in the U.K. to lecturing around the world and authoring works of scholarship and polemics (we reviewed one of his books here), his analysis is worthy of attention. Three years ago, he gave a … Continue reading Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad on Riding the Tiger of Modernity
Traversing Tradition: Exploring the Foundations
The modern world is rapidly changing, with transformations that affect all facets of life including family, the economy, the environment, war, politics, and religion. Understanding how the world operates allows us to take ownership of who we are, why we think the things we do, and why we do the things we do. Failing to understand modernity is like being the passenger in a car, … Continue reading Traversing Tradition: Exploring the Foundations
Musings on The Impossible State
A Book Review of The Impossible State: Islam, Politics, and Modernity’s Moral Predicament by Wael Hallaq Introduction For a beginner, The Impossible State (henceforth referred to as TIS) is an incomprehensible tome. Throughout the book, Hallaq strings together technical terms effortlessly. It took me a few reads to even begin to understand Hallaq’s central thesis, let alone the finer details embedded across the text. Therein lies … Continue reading Musings on The Impossible State
Ideology and Globalization
Defining “ideology” is a burdensome feat, as the term is used in a plethora of diverse contexts. Friedrich Engels, a prominent German philosopher, used the term to refer to abstract ideas that were independent of tangible existence. Later, Marxists described it as a malicious veil blinding the masses to the reality of their exploitation. Ultramodern colloquial usage takes a simpler approach by imposing the term … Continue reading Ideology and Globalization
Dostoevsky’s Strange Ideas and the Modern Terrorist
While nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer, nothing is more difficult than to understand him. [1] The quotation above is less a reflection of what Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) actually said — as it remains unverified but frequently cited — but more of what the Russian author’s novels continue to offer us: an understanding of the evildoer. His novel, Crime and Punishment, is known for … Continue reading Dostoevsky’s Strange Ideas and the Modern Terrorist
الإنشقاق عن الحداثة
In English تفتح التلفاز أو أي موقع تواصل اجتماعي مثل تويتر، وترى نقاش الناس حول مقطع فيديو، أو حدث سياسي ، أو مقال في أحدى المجلات فأينما تنظر، تجد رأي وفكر مختلف، وهذا يسبب كثير من الجدل. ولكن قبل التعليق على أي شئ، علينا أن ندرك أولا ما هو النظام الفكري والإيديولوجي الذي نستعمله لتحليل أي موضوع. وعلينا أن ندرك أيضا أن بعض الأنظمة الفكرية … Continue reading الإنشقاق عن الحداثة
