Malik Bennabi's life and theory of civilization.

Abstract

This dissertation is a study of the Algerian thinker Malik Bennabi (1905-1973). It centers on examination of his theory of civilization which stated: "man + soil + time = civilization." This study examines Bennabi's views concerning man as the major factor in civilization, and culture as the principal agent in development. The first chapter discusses Algeria under the French, particularly the colons' attitude towards the inhabitants and their culture. The issue of educating Algerians was a center of political controversy between the colons and the natives, and between the colons and France. This chapter examines the shortcomings of the policy of educating the natives and the development of the natives' attitude toward French education. The second chapter discusses the cultural and political awakening of Algeria at the beginning of the century. The influence of Tunisia, Egypt, and the Algerian immigrants on that awakening was evident. It points to the visit of $\\sp{\\rm c}$Abdu to Algeria in 1903 and the journal al-Man ar as having contributed to the development of the Algerian national press and the nationalist movement. This chapter considers the activities of the Association of the Algerian $\\sp{\\rm c}$Ulama, which represented the viewpoint of many Algerians, including Bennabi. The third chapter examines what is known of the life of Bennabi, and his education and intellectual evolution in Algeria, France, and Egypt. The fourth chapter traces the influence of the scholars who preceded Bennabi in studying civilization. It examines the similarity and differences between Bennabi and both Ibn Khaldoun and Toynbee. It explains Bennabi's use of history and sociology in developing his theory of the three stages of civilization. The fifth chapter presents an interpretation of Bennabi's theory of civilization. It considers Bennabi's views of the renaissance movements of al-Afghani, $\\sp{\\rm c}$Abdu and their followers and the movement of modernism. Bennabi viewed man as the major factor in civilization, and his culture as determining his activities and attitudes in life. He concluded that the decadence of today's Muslims was caused by improper developments in their culture which should therefore be improved in four major areas: ethical constitution, aesthetic taste, practical logic, and technique.