Science and the Koran: The Decline of Islamic Science

This video is the second part of a mini series about the relation of the Koran and Science.

This part describes how the substitution of philosophy by religion as basis of science brought an end to the Golden Age of science in the Islamic world.

Sources I have used for both videos:

Much information about Science in the Golden Age, but sometimes overstating the role of Islamic scientists:
http://www.muslimheritage.com/

About classical Islamic philosophy:
http://www.muslimphilosophy.com

Al-Ghazali´s "Incoherence of Philosophers" can be downloaded here:
http://www.ghazali.org/works/taf-eng.pdf

I used as most reliable source:
McAuliffe, Jane Dammen (Ed.) 2001: Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an. Brill: Leiden, Boston, Köln.

The following article by Pervez Hoodbhoy, a Pakistani Professor of Nuclear Physics, deals with the question, why there was no scientific revolution in the Islamic world in spite of the remarkable achievements in the middle ages.
He explaines the role of Al-Ghazali and the Asharites, which was the philosophical school he was the most influential member of.
http://www.chowk.com/articles/4091

An article by the same author on the state of Science in the Islamic world today:
http://www.chowk.com/articles/12422

Category:

Education

Tags:

• science
• religion
• atheism
• Islam
• Koran
• Allah
• God
• miracle
• al-ghazali
• philosophy
• degrasse

[Klingschor]

Actually, Arabic Science continued after the Mongols for some 300 years - under the Muslim Mongols, Arabic Astronomy reached its peak. I refer you to Ehsan Masood's 'Science & Islam: A History', p.125 & p.134.

[Jeremias1111]

@Klingschor

Thank you very much, I will look it up!

[esraretin]

i want to read al ghazali??? do u know where can i get a pdf?

[Jeremias1111]

@esraretin

You will find a link to the "Incoherence" in the video description.

[arcticmint]

@esraretin You do not want to read al-Ghazali. It is very hard to understand.

[Jeremias1111]

@arcticmint

I found the "Incoherence" very clear and structured. So while I do not agree with some arguments he presents, I did not find them difficult to understand.

[Klingschor]

@2cool4skoolful

There are no ocean barriers (/watch?v=AFy-QAVbbhA), and mountains don't have roots and aren't unmoveable and don't stop earthquakes (/watch?v=RLF3EPGrYyA). Neither too did the Qur'an predict the Big Bang (/watch?v=5SWBL74zNfU).

Just face facts: you're afraid of death or some other emotional appeal, you've chosen Islam as your particular teddybear to cuddle, and you're retrospectively finding reasons to believe in Islam. Why even bother fishing for evidence? Just use 'Faith'

[SaudiPseudonym]

And THAT is why Islamic nations have always been lagging behind. When will they ditch this medieval nonsense and catch up with history?!

[jjclassjj]

great video thanks

[hierostratus]

Why is the word "philosophy" not mentioned in the Qu`ran ?

[grisgrisy]

love the video man

[sprattysy]

interesting video and very informative

[rodswebdesign]

really informative and interesting

[chrispikeyp]

some great inforamtion here thanks

[TaterGumfries]

Another reason the progress stopped is that once the books were destroyed and the non-Muslims kicked out, there was no one to do the actual thinkin, and no record of the thinkin that had been done..