During my seminar class i shared with my students my understanding of the problems with logical positivism and how it effects all western secular knowledge. This initiated a discussion with the students in which they shared their feedback and two concerns they had of their understanding of the welcome address of Dr.Asadur Rehman. I think this forum is the place to share the discussion and my response to that, so please share your views on this as well to do to the discussion.
1. Question about science:
One student (keeping name anonymous) raised a confusion about Dr.Asad Zaman's welcome address that we should not learn scientific knowledge but how can we do without that and that is the basis for all the knowledge that has progressed today? I responded that my understanding of what Dr.Zaman is saying is not that muslim students should stop learning science as that goes without saying, and that is already going on and will continue to go on in the future, but we don't need the entire world population pursuing science. Also what Dr.Zaman is urging is what is neglected and an area which needs work and this is looking at the problems caused by the failures of logical positivism. Definition of what is science changes in every moment of history. The work that needs to be done is what is stressed –for e.g. using an example used by Dr.Zaman elsewhere in class , the knowledge that is useful versus knowledge that is useless, an automobile manufacturer may know how every part works but he may never be able to drive the car if he doesn't learn the skill to drive.
So the ongoing question for tafakur for me in my field of studies is what is “useful knowledge” at any one particular moment of history and how to strive towards learning and sharing “useful knowledge” versus “useless” one.
2. Question about learning to earn:
Another point from Dr.Zaman which a very good student of mine raised was why should we not focus on “earning” we need to earn to look after out families and those around me. To this my response is to aim to make higher aims than simply “earning” and if you do so you will automatically earn in the process. That is my understanding and experience please comment and share your views or different understanding of these two questions raised in your mind, or if they have been cleared at this stage of our class feel free to share your process too.
Feriyal's understanding is correct. Today, Wheat and Corn are the main grains which feed billions of people. Thus growing wheat and corn is the most essential knowledge to have -- but very few people are taught these farming skills. It is not part of our core curriculum in schools, and does not need to be.
ReplyDeleteThe example I gave was that of driving skills, versus knowledge of technlogy to manufacture a car. Obviously, if we dont know, or dont have the technology, there would be no cars and no point in learning how to drive. But driving is tremendously more useful, easy to learn, and valuable skill for the vast majority. But a specialized few MUST know and learn the production technology as well.
Similarly, we should set sights on HIGH goals, and earn what we need to achieve it, instead of have the meaningless pursuit of wealth as a goal.