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The Quest for Meaning: Developing a Philosophy of Pluralism
In The Quest for Developing a Philosophy of Pluralism, Tariq Ramadan embarks on a journey to uncover the profound truths that bind us together. In a world so full of different beliefs and viewpoints, how can we find peace in our shared humanity? Acclaimed thinker and philosopher Tariq Ramadan explores universal ideas such as love, respect, truth and tolerance, and examines questions such as how can men and women relate to each other? What is the true nature of equality? What does 'civilization' really mean? In doing so, he opens our minds to a new view of humanity. Whether we are Christian or Buddhist, Jewish or Muslim, secularist or believer, he reveals that all traditions of thought spring from the same place, and guides us to see past what divides us and discover the beauty of what we have in common. This book has resonance for all of us, showing why, eventually, all different spiritual paths lead to the human heart. 'A prophetic, passionate and insightful book'
Karen Armstrong, Financial Times Tariq Ramadan is Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at the Faculty of Oriental Studies and St Antony's College (University of Oxford). He is the Director of the Centre for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (Doha) He is the author of The Quest for Meaning and The Messenger, and has been described as one of the 'most important innovators for the twenty-first century' by Time magazine.
Karen Armstrong, Financial Times Tariq Ramadan is Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at the Faculty of Oriental Studies and St Antony's College (University of Oxford). He is the Director of the Centre for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (Doha) He is the author of The Quest for Meaning and The Messenger, and has been described as one of the 'most important innovators for the twenty-first century' by Time magazine.
212 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2010
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About the author
Tariq Ramadan
109 books1,177 followersTariq Ramadan is the son of Said Ramadan and Wafa Al-Bana, who was the eldest daughter of Hassan al Banna, who in 1928 founded the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Gamal al-Banna, the liberal Muslim reformer is his great-uncle. His father was a prominent figure in the Muslim Brotherhood and was exiled by Gamal Abdul Nasser[3] from Egypt to Switzerland, where Tariq was born.
Tariq Ramadan studied Philosophy and French literature at the Masters level and holds a PhD in Arabic and Islamic studies from the University of Geneva. He also wrote a PhD dissertation on Friedrich Nietzsche, entitled Nietzsche as a Historian of Philosophy.[4] Ramadan then studied Islamic jurisprudence at Al-Azhar university in Cairo, Egypt.[5]
He taught at the College de Saussure, a high school in Geneva, Switzerland, and held a lectureship in Religion and Philosophy at the University of Fribourg from 1996 to 2003. In October 2005 he began teaching at St Antony's College at the University of Oxford on a Visiting Fellowship. In 2005 he was a senior research fellow at the Lokahi Foundation.[6][7] In 2007 he successfully applied for the professorship in Islamic studies at the University of Leiden, but then declined to take up the position, citing professional reasons.[8][9] He was also a guest professor of Identity and Citizenship at Erasmus University Rotterdam,[10][11][12] till August 2009 when the City of Rotterdam and Erasmus University dismissed him from his positions as "integration adviser" and professor, stating that the program he chairs on Iran's Press TV, Islam & Life, was "irreconcilable" with his duties in Rotterdam. Ramadan described this move as Islamophobic and politically charged. Beginning September 2009, Ramadan, was appointed to the His Highness Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Chair in Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University.
Ramadan established the Mouvement des Musulmans Suisses (Movement of Swiss Muslims),which engages in various interfaith seminars. He is an advisor to the EU on religious issues and was sought for advice by the EU on a commission on “Islam and Secularism”.In September 2005 he was invited to join a task force by the government of the United Kingdom.[3] He is also the President of the Euro-Muslim Network,a Brussels-based think-tank.
He is widely interviewed and has produced about 100 tapes which sell tens of thousands of copies each year
As of 2009, Tariq Ramadan was persona non grata in Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia[19] Libya or Syria because of his "criticism of these undemocratic regimes that deny the most basic human rights".
Ramadan is married to a French convert to Islam and they have four children.
Tariq Ramadan studied Philosophy and French literature at the Masters level and holds a PhD in Arabic and Islamic studies from the University of Geneva. He also wrote a PhD dissertation on Friedrich Nietzsche, entitled Nietzsche as a Historian of Philosophy.[4] Ramadan then studied Islamic jurisprudence at Al-Azhar university in Cairo, Egypt.[5]
He taught at the College de Saussure, a high school in Geneva, Switzerland, and held a lectureship in Religion and Philosophy at the University of Fribourg from 1996 to 2003. In October 2005 he began teaching at St Antony's College at the University of Oxford on a Visiting Fellowship. In 2005 he was a senior research fellow at the Lokahi Foundation.[6][7] In 2007 he successfully applied for the professorship in Islamic studies at the University of Leiden, but then declined to take up the position, citing professional reasons.[8][9] He was also a guest professor of Identity and Citizenship at Erasmus University Rotterdam,[10][11][12] till August 2009 when the City of Rotterdam and Erasmus University dismissed him from his positions as "integration adviser" and professor, stating that the program he chairs on Iran's Press TV, Islam & Life, was "irreconcilable" with his duties in Rotterdam. Ramadan described this move as Islamophobic and politically charged. Beginning September 2009, Ramadan, was appointed to the His Highness Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Chair in Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University.
Ramadan established the Mouvement des Musulmans Suisses (Movement of Swiss Muslims),which engages in various interfaith seminars. He is an advisor to the EU on religious issues and was sought for advice by the EU on a commission on “Islam and Secularism”.In September 2005 he was invited to join a task force by the government of the United Kingdom.[3] He is also the President of the Euro-Muslim Network,a Brussels-based think-tank.
He is widely interviewed and has produced about 100 tapes which sell tens of thousands of copies each year
As of 2009, Tariq Ramadan was persona non grata in Tunisia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia[19] Libya or Syria because of his "criticism of these undemocratic regimes that deny the most basic human rights".
Ramadan is married to a French convert to Islam and they have four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
September 12, 2012
Freedom is not really free as I thought, freedom as this book is trying to tell me is the very hard work of liberating ourselves from the primordial concept of freedom, freedom is how to get the power of understanding, being able to see the windows of world and being compassionate to other human being & to our own-selves that's the real freedom that will survive us in the earth as God want us live!
September 24, 2012
The book is important in that it is one of the few places where Tariq Ramadan appears to systematically articulate his ideas. Many of the ideas presented are compelling and demonstrate Ramadan's carefulness of thought. The book, however, is also a missed opportunity. Rather than being grounded in the Islamic tradition and hence being an important work of theology, the book instead aims at being a general "philosophy of pluralism," as the subtitle indicates, that is universally accessible and appealing. This is the book's weakness. He achieves accessibility, but at the cost of appeal. In attempting to open up a dialogue Ramadan reaches too far. By drawing on such a wide range of spiritual, religious, and philosophical traditions to make his claims, he appears anchorless in the end. The ideas that he strings together seem excessively diluted and far too conveniently commensurate. In sum, far too much difference is smoothed over.
It would have been more productive I believe for Ramadan to have argued his case from an Islamic perspective and then allow others from their respective traditions to respond in kind. Instead, the presentation ends up lacking historical weight since it tries to cover so much so superficially and hence cedes any chance of investment from the reader.
It would have been more productive I believe for Ramadan to have argued his case from an Islamic perspective and then allow others from their respective traditions to respond in kind. Instead, the presentation ends up lacking historical weight since it tries to cover so much so superficially and hence cedes any chance of investment from the reader.
June 24, 2016
I've lots of questions inside.. About the world, about finding peace, about existence, about faith & its relation with reason or science. Lots was going on inside of me and That's why I had picked up this book by "Tariq Ramadan" that is tackling the subject of dualism, philosophy, search for meaning and many more..
I've found my questions as raised by Immanuel Kant ( What can I know? What should I do? What may I hope for?). I also found a recognition of the situation by what Ramadan called the basic elements of humanity: ( Knowing that we are on a quest, recognizing the existence of many different ways, and doubting the essence of our way as opposed to others).
In this book, the author managed to go through a journey, or as he called it the quest for meanings. Whether you are worshipping a God or not, I consider this book a universal book to be shared between readers of different beliefs, origins & locations. In this world of huge misunderstanding, conflicts and even wars all one's need is such a holistic view of Humanity, of Civilization, of Ethics, of Love and of Acceptance.
A highly recommended read!
I've found my questions as raised by Immanuel Kant ( What can I know? What should I do? What may I hope for?). I also found a recognition of the situation by what Ramadan called the basic elements of humanity: ( Knowing that we are on a quest, recognizing the existence of many different ways, and doubting the essence of our way as opposed to others).
In this book, the author managed to go through a journey, or as he called it the quest for meanings. Whether you are worshipping a God or not, I consider this book a universal book to be shared between readers of different beliefs, origins & locations. In this world of huge misunderstanding, conflicts and even wars all one's need is such a holistic view of Humanity, of Civilization, of Ethics, of Love and of Acceptance.
A highly recommended read!
January 10, 2016
P. Tariq is the one who taught me that without discipline you cannot maintain freedom, This book should definitely have a place on your shelf, it is so intense yet on its first pages, I realized I have to go back and read it again.
Tariq Ramadan portrays ethics, diversity, arts, philosophies, spiritualities, religions in different angles, for those who dont read philosophy, this book will be difficult yet it is so necessary to read, even if you read it bit by bit. Human beings are on a quest and he describes the conditions of embarking on this quest.. how human consciousness works.
I am so glad there is a Muslim who can write such books with this professionalism and openness to other eastern and western cultures and ideologies, he is well-aware of both mindsets and of what he is saying, it will make you realize how important it is for a Muslim to be aware of all kinds of arts, sciences that is out there in order to have a collective view on how humanity is shaped and what shapes us, its a book about diversity, love, tolerance, forgiveness, transcendence of self, and exploring new oceans of ideas.
Tariq Ramadan portrays ethics, diversity, arts, philosophies, spiritualities, religions in different angles, for those who dont read philosophy, this book will be difficult yet it is so necessary to read, even if you read it bit by bit. Human beings are on a quest and he describes the conditions of embarking on this quest.. how human consciousness works.
I am so glad there is a Muslim who can write such books with this professionalism and openness to other eastern and western cultures and ideologies, he is well-aware of both mindsets and of what he is saying, it will make you realize how important it is for a Muslim to be aware of all kinds of arts, sciences that is out there in order to have a collective view on how humanity is shaped and what shapes us, its a book about diversity, love, tolerance, forgiveness, transcendence of self, and exploring new oceans of ideas.
October 17, 2013
This is a book meant to start a dialogue, and to provide one with the framework and vision necessary to begin that dialogue. It is not an answer, and Ramadan does not pretend to give answers, although, in light of this, I often felt he was attempting to cover too much ground.
What I took from this book was a profound call to love more deeply. Everything else that Ramadan mentions is ultimately drawn from love. Love involves a particular tension from the vantage point of pluralism. This tension might be summarized: "I need to love myself deeply enough to know my purpose in this world - or to be on a constant search to find that purpose. In light of this, I will adopt certain truisms for myself, but I must be able to hold those beliefs while still validating the beliefs of those around me through empathy. This apparent contradiction can be achieved through a non-dualistic perspective, and is how my love can extend to others. If I cannot love in this manner, I am in danger of falling into patterns that ultimately end up restricting freedom both for myself and for others."
To love in this way, we need to find solutions, we need to find universals, we need to recognize common humanity. Educating ourselves in the various ways people work towards purpose or meaning is perhaps the most important step in the process. Ramadan provides tools that helps us to ask the right questions of one another. This is the kind of love that is able to live within a certain belief system or tradition, but still be able to see that the final answers are not within one's grasp. We always have something to learn from the "other".
The content of the book is filled with discussions of spiritual traditions, atheism, civilizations, globalization, education, cultural patterns, psychology, philosophy, science, rationalism, political systems, etc.... From his own description, Ramadan weaves in and out of these various currents and shows their inter-connectivity. It's a metaphor of how we can interact in our own human diversity - by looking for those places where various threads cross and coherently intersect. To do so requires love and acceptance of the "other" as a human while constantly seeking to ask appropriate questions without always needing to have the answers.
What I took from this book was a profound call to love more deeply. Everything else that Ramadan mentions is ultimately drawn from love. Love involves a particular tension from the vantage point of pluralism. This tension might be summarized: "I need to love myself deeply enough to know my purpose in this world - or to be on a constant search to find that purpose. In light of this, I will adopt certain truisms for myself, but I must be able to hold those beliefs while still validating the beliefs of those around me through empathy. This apparent contradiction can be achieved through a non-dualistic perspective, and is how my love can extend to others. If I cannot love in this manner, I am in danger of falling into patterns that ultimately end up restricting freedom both for myself and for others."
To love in this way, we need to find solutions, we need to find universals, we need to recognize common humanity. Educating ourselves in the various ways people work towards purpose or meaning is perhaps the most important step in the process. Ramadan provides tools that helps us to ask the right questions of one another. This is the kind of love that is able to live within a certain belief system or tradition, but still be able to see that the final answers are not within one's grasp. We always have something to learn from the "other".
The content of the book is filled with discussions of spiritual traditions, atheism, civilizations, globalization, education, cultural patterns, psychology, philosophy, science, rationalism, political systems, etc.... From his own description, Ramadan weaves in and out of these various currents and shows their inter-connectivity. It's a metaphor of how we can interact in our own human diversity - by looking for those places where various threads cross and coherently intersect. To do so requires love and acceptance of the "other" as a human while constantly seeking to ask appropriate questions without always needing to have the answers.
September 21, 2015
I loved this book very much - with slight preference for some chapters over the others. However, collectively, this is a very good book indeed, covering a wide spectrum of topics from Education to Politics, Equality, Mysticism & Love ... The author explains big, sometimes complicated terms and concepts in layman language which makes it easy to keep up with him.
I could strongly relate to many things written in this book, I am already sharing a few hereunder.
I'd strongly recommend the book for anyone who's interested in philosophy.
Quotes from the book.:
It will be noted that all religious, philosophical and spiritual teachings inspire the basically positive attitude that invites human beings to become initiates, to change, to reform themselves and to find inner resources that will lift them up. That is their essence, it is when they are perverted that their teachings become rigid and dogmatic, and solidify into moral codes that inspire a feeling of guilt, that stigmatize what is natural, or lead to an obsession with limits, flaws or "sin". It is at this point that things become inverted and we begin to see ourselves in a negative and a deprecatory light. When it's not one's own gaze or final judgement that condemns one to condemn oneself, one begins to feel uncomfortable, and feel that one can't live up to one's ideals.
**
The modern era is one of confusion & insecurity.
**
The heavy psychological (but not always conscious) burden of the information that reaches us through so many different channels all over the world on the one hand, combined with the stress of everyday life, the lack of time to think, read and try to understand, the feeling of insecurity and the frustrations on the other, make the 'social body' fragile, and, to pursue the comparison and to be more specific, weaken the 'social brain' and make it quite febrile.
**
Intimate tensions and inner conflicts (which oppose the mind and the body or, more prosiacally, the amygdala and the neo-cortex) can result in a dangerous loss of self-control, or to a feeling of imbalance and unease.
**
We live in dangerous times in which global technologies are instruments whose power escapes our control, and they can exert a terrible influence over individuals.
**
"Centers of power (political, economic, military-industrial or media-based) sometimes decide to fuel or even create threats and dangers for national, international, economic and/or geostrategic reasons. The climate of fear and insecurity makes citizens accept measures that restrict the rights they have won, or even differential forms of treatment that are justified by the threat itself. There is nothing new about this strategy, but it's strength is amplified by the power of modern means of communication. An enemy is created, his ability to do harm is demonized and the public is encouraged to draw the logical consequences from the situation: 'You are afraid. We will guarantee your security, but in order to do that we must take exceptional measures - keep you under surveillance, keep the enemy under surveillance -and may sometimes have to encroach upon your rights, dignity or equality."
**
We are no longer capable of thinking calmly, rationally and in human terms. We are witnessing collective movements that are under the disturbing sway of social phobias.
**
'Citizen' status, of course, supposedly gives everyone the same rights and the same obligations. The social contract is quite clear on this point, and members of society know their duties and prerogatives. But not everyone has the same status: residents have a different status from immigrants (whose status is, in most countries, defined in terms of temporal criteria such as 'long-term', 'temporary' or 'seasonal'). The status of refugees is different again, as there is an indeterminate category of 'illegal' and 'undocumented'. The law makes a distinction between them, and yet the principle of equality is by definition dependent on them. The disturbing, and highly embarrassing, things is that such differences in status are used to justify differential treatment that can contradict the principle of respect for human dignity
**
“We are lacking in confidence. Confidence in ourselves, in others, confidence in God and/or man, and/or the future. We are lacking in confidence, no shadow of a doubt about that. Fear, doubt and distrust are imperceptibly colonizing our hearts & minds.”
**
“And always recall one truth: nothing can ever really be taken for granted… neither respect, nor love.”
**
“Spirituality demands of the human subject three things that are implicit in all the traditions: The autonomy of the subject (as opposed to dependency on that which affects the subject), the conscious acceptance of responsibility (as opposed to victim mentality), and a hopefully and constructive attitude ( as opposed to despair, defeatism or the nihilism that doesn’t believe in the possibility of change). The individual must also assume a basic responsibility for his own transformation, and sustain the profound conviction that everything is possible … always, and for the better. It requires an initial (and determined) act of the will to assert our ontological freedom, no matter where the individual finds himself.”
**
The clash of ignorance.
**
Conflict of perceptions.
**
“Getting back to ourselves and to the heart of our consciousness means entering the natural world of tension, of contradictory ‘postulations’, of the battlefield as described by the novelist-psychologist Dostoyevsky.”
**
“The characteristic feature of the dogmatic mind is its tendency to see things from one exclusive angle, and to think in terms of absolutes: the dogmatic mind thinks that it is a God and passes judgments from on high and in the name of eternity, just as it thinks that it is the absolute viewpoint. The dogmatic mind is a binary mind.”
**
“The faculty of reason very quickly reveals, in the most intimate proximity, its limitations: it is quite unable to understand the realm of the heart, it’s knowledge, it’s truths and even it’s loves, and it is quite bewildered by it.”
**
“Faith is an inspiration, an impetus, a belief without reason that projects meaning everywhere and sacredness at all times: no faith, no sacred.”
**
“From Hinduism to the monotheisms and through Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the common message is that we are all, naturally and potentially, inclined to reject the other, and to be intolerant and racist. Left to our own devices and our raw emotions, we can be deaf, blind, dogmatic, closed and xenophobic: we are not born open-minded, respectful & pluralist. We become so through personal effort, education, self-mastery & knowledge.”
I could strongly relate to many things written in this book, I am already sharing a few hereunder.
I'd strongly recommend the book for anyone who's interested in philosophy.
Quotes from the book.:
It will be noted that all religious, philosophical and spiritual teachings inspire the basically positive attitude that invites human beings to become initiates, to change, to reform themselves and to find inner resources that will lift them up. That is their essence, it is when they are perverted that their teachings become rigid and dogmatic, and solidify into moral codes that inspire a feeling of guilt, that stigmatize what is natural, or lead to an obsession with limits, flaws or "sin". It is at this point that things become inverted and we begin to see ourselves in a negative and a deprecatory light. When it's not one's own gaze or final judgement that condemns one to condemn oneself, one begins to feel uncomfortable, and feel that one can't live up to one's ideals.
**
The modern era is one of confusion & insecurity.
**
The heavy psychological (but not always conscious) burden of the information that reaches us through so many different channels all over the world on the one hand, combined with the stress of everyday life, the lack of time to think, read and try to understand, the feeling of insecurity and the frustrations on the other, make the 'social body' fragile, and, to pursue the comparison and to be more specific, weaken the 'social brain' and make it quite febrile.
**
Intimate tensions and inner conflicts (which oppose the mind and the body or, more prosiacally, the amygdala and the neo-cortex) can result in a dangerous loss of self-control, or to a feeling of imbalance and unease.
**
We live in dangerous times in which global technologies are instruments whose power escapes our control, and they can exert a terrible influence over individuals.
**
"Centers of power (political, economic, military-industrial or media-based) sometimes decide to fuel or even create threats and dangers for national, international, economic and/or geostrategic reasons. The climate of fear and insecurity makes citizens accept measures that restrict the rights they have won, or even differential forms of treatment that are justified by the threat itself. There is nothing new about this strategy, but it's strength is amplified by the power of modern means of communication. An enemy is created, his ability to do harm is demonized and the public is encouraged to draw the logical consequences from the situation: 'You are afraid. We will guarantee your security, but in order to do that we must take exceptional measures - keep you under surveillance, keep the enemy under surveillance -and may sometimes have to encroach upon your rights, dignity or equality."
**
We are no longer capable of thinking calmly, rationally and in human terms. We are witnessing collective movements that are under the disturbing sway of social phobias.
**
'Citizen' status, of course, supposedly gives everyone the same rights and the same obligations. The social contract is quite clear on this point, and members of society know their duties and prerogatives. But not everyone has the same status: residents have a different status from immigrants (whose status is, in most countries, defined in terms of temporal criteria such as 'long-term', 'temporary' or 'seasonal'). The status of refugees is different again, as there is an indeterminate category of 'illegal' and 'undocumented'. The law makes a distinction between them, and yet the principle of equality is by definition dependent on them. The disturbing, and highly embarrassing, things is that such differences in status are used to justify differential treatment that can contradict the principle of respect for human dignity
**
“We are lacking in confidence. Confidence in ourselves, in others, confidence in God and/or man, and/or the future. We are lacking in confidence, no shadow of a doubt about that. Fear, doubt and distrust are imperceptibly colonizing our hearts & minds.”
**
“And always recall one truth: nothing can ever really be taken for granted… neither respect, nor love.”
**
“Spirituality demands of the human subject three things that are implicit in all the traditions: The autonomy of the subject (as opposed to dependency on that which affects the subject), the conscious acceptance of responsibility (as opposed to victim mentality), and a hopefully and constructive attitude ( as opposed to despair, defeatism or the nihilism that doesn’t believe in the possibility of change). The individual must also assume a basic responsibility for his own transformation, and sustain the profound conviction that everything is possible … always, and for the better. It requires an initial (and determined) act of the will to assert our ontological freedom, no matter where the individual finds himself.”
**
The clash of ignorance.
**
Conflict of perceptions.
**
“Getting back to ourselves and to the heart of our consciousness means entering the natural world of tension, of contradictory ‘postulations’, of the battlefield as described by the novelist-psychologist Dostoyevsky.”
**
“The characteristic feature of the dogmatic mind is its tendency to see things from one exclusive angle, and to think in terms of absolutes: the dogmatic mind thinks that it is a God and passes judgments from on high and in the name of eternity, just as it thinks that it is the absolute viewpoint. The dogmatic mind is a binary mind.”
**
“The faculty of reason very quickly reveals, in the most intimate proximity, its limitations: it is quite unable to understand the realm of the heart, it’s knowledge, it’s truths and even it’s loves, and it is quite bewildered by it.”
**
“Faith is an inspiration, an impetus, a belief without reason that projects meaning everywhere and sacredness at all times: no faith, no sacred.”
**
“From Hinduism to the monotheisms and through Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the common message is that we are all, naturally and potentially, inclined to reject the other, and to be intolerant and racist. Left to our own devices and our raw emotions, we can be deaf, blind, dogmatic, closed and xenophobic: we are not born open-minded, respectful & pluralist. We become so through personal effort, education, self-mastery & knowledge.”
June 10, 2017
The title of the book tells a lot about its contents. This is a philosophical book, heavily dealing with Philosophical arguments in an effort to create a base and initiation in reader's mind to start a quest for meaning.
The chapters deal with various topics, to name a few: Faith & reason, Tolerance & Respect, Freedom, Fraternity & equality, Education, Independence, Civilization etc. You will come to know many different points of view of different schools of thoughts on each topic. Writer intended to create a level ground and maintained a neutral position to develop his own philosophy to find 'meaning'.
This is not a book that you can speed-read, because each passage requires extra attention for comprehension and you may need to go back & re-read what you have just read a few seconds ago. This book will cause you to stop, think and ponder upon things writer discussed on.
Its definitely a good read -- may be a little difficult to those who don't like 'Critical Thinking', but still worth the time for a quest for meaning :)
The chapters deal with various topics, to name a few: Faith & reason, Tolerance & Respect, Freedom, Fraternity & equality, Education, Independence, Civilization etc. You will come to know many different points of view of different schools of thoughts on each topic. Writer intended to create a level ground and maintained a neutral position to develop his own philosophy to find 'meaning'.
This is not a book that you can speed-read, because each passage requires extra attention for comprehension and you may need to go back & re-read what you have just read a few seconds ago. This book will cause you to stop, think and ponder upon things writer discussed on.
Its definitely a good read -- may be a little difficult to those who don't like 'Critical Thinking', but still worth the time for a quest for meaning :)
August 31, 2013
"We should therefore invert out perspective and approach the issue in terms of ends rather than fundementals. Rather than arguing (or quarreling) about different conceptions of men, we should, that is, be asking what these different traditions or schools of thought have to offer and how they can help human beings to develop their full potential. We have by no means reached a consensus, but the differences are minor and the goals are the same. There is something universal about all these traditions, no matter which dimension they emphasise."
Philosophy, beyond religion - with a focus on humans. In this book, Tariq Ramadan attempts a return to universal principles. Unlike when most use this phrase though, he defines it, and does not attempt to define his own principles as universal in order to demonise those who do not share them, but to genuinely find common ground between all the major (and some minor) world religions. He speaks on topics such as coexistance and trust, and whilst the discussion is somewhat abstract he relates this to the state of our modern societies and why they many lack cohesion. The nature of love, the meaning of life, fundemental principles underlying all religions philosophies and spiritualities, women, oppression, peace, education, freedom, resistance, tradition, morality and reason are some of the topics he touches on. He distances himself from advocation of any religion or philosophy, with no attempt to judge between them, and instead tries to build bridges between their diversity to a common ground they all share.
His background in philosophy shows here more than in his other books, as he also freely name-drops European philosophers of all kinds. However, the dense and very ornate language makes it difficult to follow at times and perhaps requiring slow readings if you aren't familiar with his style. I found it somewhat unsatisfying given the many assertions he makes on the nature of things without evidence, and would probably benefit from the change to dialogue with him, but I'm still not sure how much of the book I understood and how much I will return to either way.
References to current affairs around the world show how very far removed from the ideal is from the current discourse, and he outlines a mindset (particularly relevant to post-Islamism) that is necessary if we are to ever work towards bringing harmony compatible with diversity to the world - a philosophy of pluralism.
Philosophy, beyond religion - with a focus on humans. In this book, Tariq Ramadan attempts a return to universal principles. Unlike when most use this phrase though, he defines it, and does not attempt to define his own principles as universal in order to demonise those who do not share them, but to genuinely find common ground between all the major (and some minor) world religions. He speaks on topics such as coexistance and trust, and whilst the discussion is somewhat abstract he relates this to the state of our modern societies and why they many lack cohesion. The nature of love, the meaning of life, fundemental principles underlying all religions philosophies and spiritualities, women, oppression, peace, education, freedom, resistance, tradition, morality and reason are some of the topics he touches on. He distances himself from advocation of any religion or philosophy, with no attempt to judge between them, and instead tries to build bridges between their diversity to a common ground they all share.
His background in philosophy shows here more than in his other books, as he also freely name-drops European philosophers of all kinds. However, the dense and very ornate language makes it difficult to follow at times and perhaps requiring slow readings if you aren't familiar with his style. I found it somewhat unsatisfying given the many assertions he makes on the nature of things without evidence, and would probably benefit from the change to dialogue with him, but I'm still not sure how much of the book I understood and how much I will return to either way.
References to current affairs around the world show how very far removed from the ideal is from the current discourse, and he outlines a mindset (particularly relevant to post-Islamism) that is necessary if we are to ever work towards bringing harmony compatible with diversity to the world - a philosophy of pluralism.
May 18, 2017
Considering what a well-intended and lucid philosophizing attempt it generally came out to be, I hate to say that it unfortunately falls a little short of its intended end. It certainly is a 'quest' for meaning; however, in general, Ramadan fails to provide a really original philosophy of pluralism. It seems like a self-evident myriad of compromises that comes as a necessary burden with any such attempt. It is certainly good as a reasonable survey of all the interesting questions belonging to ontological, epistemological and existential enquiries, however, except for an uninitiated reader, it falls short in covering that comparatively limited ground as well.
Ultimately, one wonders what original thread can really come out from an intricately complex, though haphazard crisscrossing of a kind of quasi philosophia perennis, extremely cautious and delimited random bits of scriptural reasoning and chaotic attempts to develop a dialogue somewhere on the lines of David Bohm and the early theosophical Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Considering Ramadan's expertise in Islamic studies and jurisprudence, it had been a wonderful project had he attempted a cogent, elaborate and definitive philosophy of Islamic pluralism on the verge of sociology of religion and existential experience of modernity. There are already such attempts by the likes of Farid Esack with far less ambiguities as compared to this one by Ramadan.
I would say that Ramadan's canvas was rightly ambitious to encompass all the grand questions; however, in order to reach a broader audience he misdirected the text towards a downhill pop slant. Hence, this overall essentially chaotic attempt with a (rightful) nonlinear characterization claiming to be (unrealistically) linear as far as the intended aim of 'developing' a philosophy of pluralism is concerned.
Ultimately, one wonders what original thread can really come out from an intricately complex, though haphazard crisscrossing of a kind of quasi philosophia perennis, extremely cautious and delimited random bits of scriptural reasoning and chaotic attempts to develop a dialogue somewhere on the lines of David Bohm and the early theosophical Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Considering Ramadan's expertise in Islamic studies and jurisprudence, it had been a wonderful project had he attempted a cogent, elaborate and definitive philosophy of Islamic pluralism on the verge of sociology of religion and existential experience of modernity. There are already such attempts by the likes of Farid Esack with far less ambiguities as compared to this one by Ramadan.
I would say that Ramadan's canvas was rightly ambitious to encompass all the grand questions; however, in order to reach a broader audience he misdirected the text towards a downhill pop slant. Hence, this overall essentially chaotic attempt with a (rightful) nonlinear characterization claiming to be (unrealistically) linear as far as the intended aim of 'developing' a philosophy of pluralism is concerned.
March 2, 2013
The message of this book is very important and one that everyone should take to heart. With that said, the way this message is conveyed in Ramadan's work is so complicated and intricate that the only way to fully grasp its meaning is by reading the book. But be warned; this book is not a quick read nor a skim!
This book is everything one would expect from a work of philosophy. It is dense, sophisticated, assumes that everyone knows what a "troubadour" is, has paragraphs that span one and a half pages, and many other qualities that allow it to perfectly fit the mold of the stereotypical "philosophy book".
Though all this may seem intimidating, I would highly recommend that for those who are capable of tackling this book (or who just really enjoy philosophy) to do so. This is because Ramadan's message is one many people should and need to hear. However, that this book is written the way it is, I do not think that (sadly) the message will get to as many people as it should. Lets hope this is not the case.
I would have gladly given this book 4 stars out of 5 (instead of 3), but for the reasons described above I could not.
This book is everything one would expect from a work of philosophy. It is dense, sophisticated, assumes that everyone knows what a "troubadour" is, has paragraphs that span one and a half pages, and many other qualities that allow it to perfectly fit the mold of the stereotypical "philosophy book".
Though all this may seem intimidating, I would highly recommend that for those who are capable of tackling this book (or who just really enjoy philosophy) to do so. This is because Ramadan's message is one many people should and need to hear. However, that this book is written the way it is, I do not think that (sadly) the message will get to as many people as it should. Lets hope this is not the case.
I would have gladly given this book 4 stars out of 5 (instead of 3), but for the reasons described above I could not.
March 16, 2014
Tariq Ramadan has a lot of power in his pen. This book is really essential to know more about globalisation, modernity, pluralism and many other contemporary issues. Ramadan's encompassing knowledge and art of writing makes this book more valuable. Interesting insights!
November 8, 2019
It took me around a year to get through this book. Some chapters were more easily digestible than others. This is a book I will be sure to re-read, especially if I am ever in charge of someone else's upbringing.
December 5, 2010
Required reading for everyone.
April 25, 2011
Some good ideas, but the book was boring and very tedious to read.
June 2, 2011
Tariq able to potray the exact understanding on the pluralism, the truth pluralism, which not offending Islamic syari'e
February 6, 2016
What drew me to prof. Ramadan when I first heard him speak a few years ago was two words he used over and over again, and again in every speech I have ever heard him give: "critical thinking". I always got the feeling that he was in this constant state of exasperation with humankind and our indiscriminate fixation on differences, so much so that we would go to war over it; "We look around us- at ourselves, our friends, our enemies- and we are overwhelmed with sadness: so little critical thinking, so little curiosity, so little love.". In this book, prof. Ramadan takes the reader on a journey of the truths of our similarities, deconstructs all that we thought we knew about the world and ourselves, and challenges our intellect, challenges us to be critical, aware...indeed an initiation into a journey of discovering ourselves and our humanity.
To be quite honest, I struggled with the first few chapters, wasn't sure what the objectives were or why TR was using such complex language to express such simple ideas. It took reaching the end of chapter 3 to begin to grasp what the book was about, but when I did my mind was free...
TR initiates us into an objective examination of our everyday internal struggles: faith vs. reason, determinism vs. free will, our conception of freedom, then takes outside of ourselves to examine our relations with others, how it is a reflection of our relationship with ourselves, individual and personal ethics as a precursor to a legal system that is to work, gender relations, parenting, education, politics and power relations..then finally brings us back to ourselves...he borrows from ancient and modern philosophies, the sciences, religions, literature and art to show us that though the paths may differ, the quest is the same.
The breadth of topics and the depths to which he delves truly makes it a priceless good-read that goes beyond any group affiliation, whether religious, cultural or political, and transcends both time and place. This is a precious piece of work that I know I will be coming back to time and time again to remind myself of the journey, on which, for just a little while, prof. Ramadan was with me.
To be quite honest, I struggled with the first few chapters, wasn't sure what the objectives were or why TR was using such complex language to express such simple ideas. It took reaching the end of chapter 3 to begin to grasp what the book was about, but when I did my mind was free...
TR initiates us into an objective examination of our everyday internal struggles: faith vs. reason, determinism vs. free will, our conception of freedom, then takes outside of ourselves to examine our relations with others, how it is a reflection of our relationship with ourselves, individual and personal ethics as a precursor to a legal system that is to work, gender relations, parenting, education, politics and power relations..then finally brings us back to ourselves...he borrows from ancient and modern philosophies, the sciences, religions, literature and art to show us that though the paths may differ, the quest is the same.
The breadth of topics and the depths to which he delves truly makes it a priceless good-read that goes beyond any group affiliation, whether religious, cultural or political, and transcends both time and place. This is a precious piece of work that I know I will be coming back to time and time again to remind myself of the journey, on which, for just a little while, prof. Ramadan was with me.
August 13, 2014
The book in itself is a reminder of how much we are alike and still so different, our singularity is universal, but somehow we focus on the differences. Tariq Ramadan has a way in make our similarities more pronounced, our freedom without knowledge is not freedom, respect without respecting the sources of reference and trying to comprehend it is not respect, the other is a mirror to ourselves and whenever we are well aware of the objectives and the escense of our tradition and spirtuality can we really have empathy, compassion and love to understand that we are all in a quest for meaning. The books is a must read and reread to know where we stand even if we dont live in a country with different religion, anywhere where humans exist even if they follow the same creed means that there will still be differences. I liked the topics the author tried to come to especially the one about "ethics of independence and independence of ethics" , but I hoped it would talk in more details about each one of them considering their importance.. Perhaps itd be the start point not the end. And the topic of female and male is quite interesting it made me realize that the fight that is fought between feminism and thoes who oppress woman will not reach to a finish line until we understand firstly that both men and women are equal but not identitcal and their should be a quest for peace to understand we are all in a "shared" quest for meaning - or at least thats how I precieved it.
February 1, 2014
This book gets a 2 star because it was OK. It was not bad.
It certainly was not a one sitting reading for me. I find my self having to re read certain paragraphs trying to grasp the message. I suppose it would be easier for those familiar with this genre as reference to sources of philosophical thoughts were strewn all through out the book.
This book to me is a guidebook for those in search of the meaning of life.
The book begins with discussing what how we come to the point of searching and at what stage of our lives this question will start becoming a question.
The rest of the book is a guidance or suggestion categorized into different elements as to how one can aspire to get to the answer.
In the beginning Mr Ramadan stated that there is only one truth. and that this truth is seen by different people from different 'windows'. The windows are of course tinted with all sorts of filters, as a result of ones upbringing, religion, education, social background, and much more which makes up the bulk of this book.
I do not pretend to have a full understanding of this book having read it this one time. "A man who is lost is vulnerable, and rarely complacent." And that is why, I can see that this book will be thumbed through again and again well into the future.
It certainly was not a one sitting reading for me. I find my self having to re read certain paragraphs trying to grasp the message. I suppose it would be easier for those familiar with this genre as reference to sources of philosophical thoughts were strewn all through out the book.
This book to me is a guidebook for those in search of the meaning of life.
The book begins with discussing what how we come to the point of searching and at what stage of our lives this question will start becoming a question.
The rest of the book is a guidance or suggestion categorized into different elements as to how one can aspire to get to the answer.
In the beginning Mr Ramadan stated that there is only one truth. and that this truth is seen by different people from different 'windows'. The windows are of course tinted with all sorts of filters, as a result of ones upbringing, religion, education, social background, and much more which makes up the bulk of this book.
I do not pretend to have a full understanding of this book having read it this one time. "A man who is lost is vulnerable, and rarely complacent." And that is why, I can see that this book will be thumbed through again and again well into the future.
January 4, 2014
"This book is a journey, and an initiation." The book is indeed that. Tariq Ramadan discusses a variety of topics that are connected, yet not really connected at the same time; from different philosophical and religious perspectives.
In the beginning, I had trouble understanding his writing because I have never delved into philosophy before, but eventually I got the hang of it (most of the time). Don't give up on the book if you face the same problem.
This is by no means a light read. He will not give you answers to most of the issues he brings up, but he will broaden your perspective and challenge the way you think.
I will definitely re-read this book in the future and I highly recommend you to read it.
In the beginning, I had trouble understanding his writing because I have never delved into philosophy before, but eventually I got the hang of it (most of the time). Don't give up on the book if you face the same problem.
This is by no means a light read. He will not give you answers to most of the issues he brings up, but he will broaden your perspective and challenge the way you think.
I will definitely re-read this book in the future and I highly recommend you to read it.
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June 24, 2019It took me too long to finish this book, because every section is a book of knowledge. Tariq asked many important questions -everyone should ask at some level- about life and its meaning. Even though he didn't give direct answers, the way he discussed the questions was helpful enough to draw a good path to achieve the best responses. Absolutely a great book, and I am adding it to re-read shelve. I aim to study it, not just read it.
I recommend it to those who feel lost and confused int his world of globalization. Enjoy.
I recommend it to those who feel lost and confused int his world of globalization. Enjoy.
December 26, 2015
I give up. I know this is great book, I tried my best to understand and grasp the message, but I just couldn't do it.
I wish Ramadan had been a little direct and clear in his writing so people who have zero understanding of Philosphy could decipher what he was trying to say. The parts that made sense were pretty good but most of the time I found myself staring at the book in confusion.
So yeah 1 star for you Ramadan just 1.
I wish Ramadan had been a little direct and clear in his writing so people who have zero understanding of Philosphy could decipher what he was trying to say. The parts that made sense were pretty good but most of the time I found myself staring at the book in confusion.
So yeah 1 star for you Ramadan just 1.
April 10, 2013
An eye-opening, moving experience. Very dense and full of ideas and abstractions, a little hard for me to follow as I often found myself needing to reread some sentences, even pages to understand what was being discussed. A slow read (plus I'm a slow reader, so it took me around 3 weeks to get through), but at the end of the day, so worth it. A must-read.
May 9, 2017
My first attempt to read The Quest for Meaning was back in 2013, to be honest I was confused by the density of information and some complicated terms during the first chapters.
Today, I think that it was a good decision to postpone reading The Quest for Meaning, this book is a must read for anyone who consider himself open-minded or a philosophy student.
Today, I think that it was a good decision to postpone reading The Quest for Meaning, this book is a must read for anyone who consider himself open-minded or a philosophy student.
November 16, 2014
Probably the longest I've taken to complete a book. I read a chapter, processed it, read another book... and picked it up again. It's just that kind of book. And once I got to the end, I wanted to read it again. I know the next time round I'll have a new understanding of it's message.
July 27, 2011
brilliant and a very mature piece
March 27, 2012
An essential read for all.
March 13, 2013
Excellent reading !
July 8, 2013
I think this was spiritually provoking and a reflection of my own understanding.
June 15, 2014
The most eloquent book that addresses the big questions in life.
August 22, 2014
Most enjoyable. The quest though is still on.
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