Westernization and Human Welfare · Maryam Jameelah
whw 0015
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In this chapter (4 sections)
- to vineed Western pbilOIOphen that man was an animal species like any other-a higher mammal to be sure, but ‘only an animal. Wiiliam James (1842-1910) even questioned the value of retaining the intangible concept of consciousness or Inind at aU, regarding human thought as merely the end result of chemical reactions upon the nervous ‘System produced by external stimuli. Psychologists like Pavlov (1849-1936) sought to delve into the m()tives of human behaviour by studying dogs, monkeys and apes.
- . Freud’s (1859-1939) discovery of the compulsive drives of the unconscious Inind originating in ~arly childhood as the source of aU irrational behavior provided ,modem philosophers with yet an additional weapon against, religion. ‘Freud maintained that the small child projected, the ilJ)8ge of his parents who gave him life, protected ‘him from harm and subjected him to discipline, punishment and rewards on to his religiou!J life in adulthood. The concept that religion is purely’man-made and ‘that ethics ar~ relative and not absolute was enthusiastically welcomed by students of history, sociology and anthropology. Thus Ralph Linton, a distinguished American anthropologist, in his study of the cultures of mankind, TheT”,of
- (1953), argUed that the
- monotheism of Judaism and Islam originated in the rigidly patriarchal family life of the Semitic tribes of Arabia. He writes:
to vineed Western pbilOIOphen that man was an animal species like any other-a higher mammal to be sure, but ‘only an animal. Wiiliam James (1842-1910) even questioned the value of retaining the intangible concept of consciousness or Inind at aU, regarding human thought as merely the end result of chemical reactions upon the nervous ‘System produced by external stimuli. Psychologists like Pavlov (1849-1936) sought to delve into the m()tives of human behaviour by studying dogs, monkeys and apes.
. Freud’s (1859-1939) discovery of the compulsive drives of the unconscious Inind originating in ~arly childhood as the source of aU irrational behavior provided ,modem philosophers with yet an additional weapon against, religion. ‘Freud maintained that the small child projected, the ilJ)8ge of his parents who gave him life, protected ‘him from harm and subjected him to discipline, punishment and rewards on to his religiou!J life in adulthood. The concept that religion is purely’man-made and ‘that ethics ar~ relative and not absolute was enthusiastically welcomed by students of history, sociology and anthropology. Thus Ralph Linton, a distinguished American anthropologist, in his study of the cultures of mankind, TheT”,of
Culture
(1953), argUed that the
uncomprOmISIng
monotheism of Judaism and Islam originated in the rigidly patriarchal family life of the Semitic tribes of Arabia. He writes:
The concept of an an..powerful deity who can only be placated by complete submission and devotion, no matter how unjust His acts may appear, was the direct outgrowth of Semitic family l’ite.
Another product of the exagscrated