Seventeenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

Since the events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent “War on Terror,” concerns and arguments over Islam, its history, and its adherents have become a central theme in media, academic, and political discourse. Overwhelmingly, this discussion has been underpinned by a reductive vision in which the historical trajectories of “Islam” and the “West” are not only painted as two monolithic and mutually exclusive civilizations, but also as having a long and violent history of war, opposition, and disagreement. In order to see beyond this overly simplistic image, this study illuminates the rich and complex relationship between Islam and the West, arguing that they in fact have another history altogether, one of collaboration, co-existence, and co-operation. Specifically, this research proposes a narrative of interconnectedness between the ‘Islamic’ and the ‘Western’ civilisations premised on the rich history of science, with a specific focus on the history of astronomy. Consistent with the conference’s theme of New Directions in the Humanities, this presentation argues that the theme of interconnectedness of civilisations needs to underpin narratives of the ‘other,’ in order to recognise the often-deep relation between cultures and intellectual movements, and avoid blunders affecting not only interpretation but also comprehension.