The problem of discussing Islam and the West

In the thread that began October 16 on whether Arabic is the language of science and modernity, Alan Levine remarked that the world of Islam was more advanced than the West during at least parts of the Middle Ages. I strongly disputed, not the statement so much, as its underlying assumptions. Mr. Levine now asks why is it so objectionable to make a simple historical assertion about medieval Islam’s achievements and its civilizational level in relation to Europe, and I explain my position further. My main point is that we cannot talk sensibly about Islam vis a vis the West, unless we first separate ourselves from the implicit liberal, anti-Western framework that, at present, conditions and distorts all such discussions.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at October 22, 2008 12:54 AM | Send