The Idea
Western modernity, as presented here, is not self-sufficient and free of crises; rather, it has entered a phase of self-examination after being dominated by a tendency toward matter and positivist measurement. The central idea is that when progress is confined to the material side, it loses something of its human balance. Hence the question of meaning and the spiritual dimension emerges as a necessity, not a luxury.
Concise Formulation
Western modernity: is entering a phase of self-examination to overcome material excess
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This claim reinforces the general argument that modernity is not a closed or final model. The book opens the way to revisiting modernity from within itself, rather than settling for a superficial opposition between tradition and modernity. From this standpoint, criticism of material excess becomes part of a broader inquiry into the limits of the modern project and the possibility of correcting it.
Why It Matters
Its importance lies in preventing modernity from being treated as an automatic opposite of spirit or meaning. It also helps understand Arkoun as open to criticizing modern reason from within, rather than rejecting it from outside. This broadens the horizon of reading and places the ethical and religious question at the heart of the debate.
Brief Evidence
Western modernity, as presented here, is not self-sufficient and free of crises; rather, it has entered a phase of self-examination after being dominated by a tendency toward matter and positivist measurement. The central idea is that when progress is confined to the material side, it loses something of its human balance. Hence the question of meaning and the spiritual dimension emerges as a necessity, not a luxury.
Reading Questions
- Why is overcoming material excess considered a step within modernity rather than outside it?
- How does this statement change the relationship between scientific progress and the need for meaning?
Degree of Documentation
High: the claim appears in a clear location in the book’s material.