Abdallah Laroui Quotes & Sayings

Arab culture both in its classical expression and in the most influential aspect of its present-day expression is opposed in almost every particular to liberal culture — Abdallah Laroui

The necessity for rational critique was increasingly felt in the tenth century, when the idea of a double truth became widespread: one for internal use and the other to be upheld outside the group; the old critical method was no longer sufficient, because it was known that a witness could lie. — Abdallah Laroui

While recognising the possibilities offered by the reformulation of classical Arab culture in the light of contemporary theoritical trends, while applauding the many efforts being made in this direction, and while feeling as much pride in this culture as any other Arab intellectual, it seems to m important nevertheless to retain the problem of "cultural retardation" at the centre of our thinking — Abdallah Laroui

it was the rupture of the community that opened the way to rational criticism; but often it was reckoned that rational criticism was valid only for others, whereas the first criterion - that of testimonial criticism - would suffice for one's own party. — Abdallah Laroui

When dealing with Arab society, [we are dealing with] a production system that is in competition with others (and not with a theoretical opposition between specific economic rationalities), a social structure that must at all times prove its viability in the world arena (and not with its inner logic, which is theoretically as total, as elegant, and plausible as that of any other society whatever), a practical politics that is in perpetual disequilibrium (and not with elaborate theories about the best form of government), a language that must constantly prove its creativity and capacity for adaptation in competition with other languages in an accelerating evolutionary situation (and not with a theory of the language at a given moment of its evolution). — Abdallah Laroui