This work examines the relevance of traditional Islamic thought and practices for a lasting solution to the current environmental crisis. Quadir describes how Seyyed Hossein Nasr challenges Muslims to reclaim their traditional intellectual and Sufi heritage as powerful means toward a most thoughtful approach to the crisis. In so doing, Nasr urges us to take a critical look at the consequences of the worldviews generated by modern science and technology and offers bold solutions for a more caring relationship between man and nature. The book argues that only a revival of the traditional worldview which perceives all entities of nature as signs of God can effectively respond to the crisis our planet faces.
Acknowledgements Introduction 0.1 The Environmental Crisis is Caused by Modern Technology-Based Lifestyles 0.2 Introduction to Seyyed Hossein Nasr 0.3 Failures of Mainstream Environmentalism 0.4 The Role for Religions and the Significance of Nasr 0.5 Nasr on Technological Solutions 0.6 Nasr and the Perennial Philosophy 0.7 Nasr and Traditional Islam 0.8 Environmentalism in the Muslim World and Nasr 0.9 The Need for a Sacred Science 0.10 Introduction Summary Chapter 1 A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL ROOTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS 1.1 Nature in the Pre-Modern Christian Europe 1.2 The Root is in Rationalism 1.3 The Renaissance Humanism and the Emergence of the Promethean Man 1.4 Scientific Revolution and the Divorce of Science from Metaphysics 1.5 Scientism and Scientific Progressivism during the Enlightenment and Beyond 1.6 Nasrs General Recommendations for all Civilizations 1.7 Chapter Summary Chapter 2 THE PERENNIAL PRINCIPLES AND THE METAPHYSICS OF NATURE WITHIN ISLAM 2.1 The Perennial Principles and the Islamic Tradition 2.2 Metaphysical Exposition of Tawhid and Hierarchy of Reality 2.3 Chapter Summary Chapter 3 METAPHYSICS, SUFISM, AND ISLAMIC ETHICS 3.1 Nasrs Strategies for the Dissemination and Application of the Knowledge of Islamic Environmental Ethics 3.2 Religious and Metaphysical Doctrines at the Foundation of Islamic Ethics 3.3 The Metaphysics of the Hierarchy of Reality Provides the Rationale for Sharia 3.4 Sufism and the Supremacy of Knowledge by the Heart 3.5 Sufi Popularization of Natures Wonder 3.6 Chapter Summary Chapter 4 THE ADVENT OF SCIENTIFIC PROGRESSIVISM AND THE MARGINALIZATION OF SUFISM 4.1 Nasr on the Contemporary Muslim Attitude towards Modern Science and Technology 4.2 The Advent of Scientific Progressivism 4.3 The Salafi Modernists 4.4 Conservative Salafi Rejection of Secularism 4.5 Revivalist/Revolutionary Salafi Movements 4.6 Transcendence of God and the Growing Affinity between Wahhabis and Salafis 4.7 Chapter Summary Chapter 5 THE PERENNIAL PRINCIPLES AND THE TRADITIONAL ISLAMIC SCIENCES 5.1 Traditional Islamic Sciences 5.2 Classification of Sciences 5.3 Example of the Traditional Scientists 5.4 Chapter Summary Chapter 6 NASRS CRITIQUE OF MODERN SCIENCE AND SCIENTISM 6.1 Nasr and the Philosophy of Science 6.2 Limitations of Modern Science 6.3 Scientism Denies tawhid and the Hierarchy of Reality 6.4 Scientism Denies any Ultimate Meaning or Purpose 6.5 Scientism in Action 6.6 Nasrs Arguments against the Theory of Evolution 6.7 Modern Science as a Way of Takthir 6.8 Takthir, the Environmental Crisis, and the Predicament for Muslims 6.9 Chapter Summary Chapter 7 TECHNOLOGY IS NOT VALUE-NEUTRAL 7.1 Work and Spirituality in Islam 7.2 The Machine and its Relationship with the Human Being 7.3 Preservation and Revival of Traditional Modes of Production 7.4 Chapter Summary Chapter 8 TOWARDS AN ISLAMIC SCIENCE 8.1 Why Metaphysics? Why the Metaphysics of Mulla Sadra? 8.2 An Outline of Sadras Natural Philosophy 8.3 Implications of Mulla Sadras Natural Philosophy 8.4 Technology Based on the New Islamic Science 8.5 The Debate over Islamic Science 8.6 Reform of Educational Institutions 8.7 Chapter Summary Chapter 9 CONCLUSION 9.1 Summary of Nasrs Approach for the Islamic World 9.2 What Have We Achieved? 9.3 Final Reflections Bibliography Index